Doueck Dental & Restorative Dentistry
located in Brooklyn, NY
The Importance of Oral Cancer Screening
Oral cancer screening is an examination that’s performed by Dr. Doueck. During this examination, he will look for cancer or precancerous conditions in your mouth. The testing is usually performed during your routine dental visit and consists of two inspections: visual and physical.
The reason oral cancer screenings are completed is that cancer and lesions are the easiest to remove and most likely to be cured the earlier they are identified.
According to a study from the American Society of Clinical Oncology, The 5-year survival rate for people with oropharyngeal (oral) cancer is 65%, but if you can diagnose cancer at an early stage, the survival rate jumps to 84%. The need for early detection is what makes oral cancer screening so important.
Oral Cancer Screening at Doueck Dental
Doueck Dental & Restorative Dentistry
What to Expect from Your Screening
Oral cancer screening is a two-step process that can easily be completed in about five minutes.
During the first portion of your screening, Dr. Doueck will visually inspect your face, neck, nose, lips, and mouth. He might also look at your gums, inner cheeks, tonsils, tongue, and throat. Some of the conditions he’ll be looking for are patches of odd coloring, bumps, ulcers, asymmetries, and other abnormalities.
After the visual inspection, Dr. Doueck will administer the physical portion of the exam. He uses his gloved hands to feel around the inside of your mouth, your head, cheeks, under the chin, and around the jaw. The reason these inspections take two steps is that some conditions are hard to see but can be felt. The abnormalities he is feeling for are unusual masses or nodules.
While oral cancer symptoms can be painful, even a painless swelling can signify problems elsewhere. If you notice anything that matches the characteristics above, contact our staff at Doueck Dental & Restorative Dentistry in Brooklyn, NY and schedule an appointment with Dr. Doueck today. We’ll make sure you get the treatment you deserve.
What to Do If There Are Signs
During his examination, Dr. Doueck might notice an abnormality. If that’s the case, he might have you return in the following weeks for another appointment to see if anything is different. He might decide that a biopsy is necessary. A biopsy is a procedure where they remove a small piece of tissue from the affected area and send it to a lab to test for cancer. This can be performed by Dr. Doueck, or he may send you to another qualified professional.