Oral cancer screenings are an important part of your routine dental cleaning and exam appointments to detect any signs of cancer in your mouth. We want to address this problem as early as possible to treat the cancer before it worsens. At Dedicated Dental Solutions, our dental specialists will examine your gums, cheeks, lips, and tongue, the roof of your mouth, and under your tongue for any symptoms or early warning signs of issues.
What Are Oral Cancer Screenings?
Oral cancer screenings occur when dentists look for any abnormalities in your mouth, but the process does not diagnose you with oral cancer. If your dentist notices anything unusual, they will refer you to an oncologist for further assistance. Some ways to detect signs of oral cancer include:
- Mouthwash Screening  – Cancer cells can turn blue with a reactive screening dye, so you will swish a blue mouthwash.
- Blue Light Detection – Your dentist will use a blue light to look for any abnormal tissue.
- Visual Examination – Dentists look for red or white patches, lumps, and sores in the mouth. They will also palpate the cheeks, jaw, neck, and chin to find odd lumps or masses.
Oral cancer screenings are critical for your health. Many people lose their lives because they do not know they have oral cancer until it is too late. Scheduling screenings is even more vital if you have risk factors such as heavy alcohol or tobacco use, excessive sun exposure, and poor eating habits.
Contact Us to Schedule Your Dental Exam and Oral Cancer Screening in Rapid City, SD!
Dedicated Dental Solutions recognizes the importance of oral cancer screenings and encourages you to book your appointment. We can perform your routine checkup and screening during the same visit, so contact us today in Rapid City, SD, to book. Call us at (605) 341-0826 today!