Oral cancer is one of those things your general dentist might look for during a routine checkup. Any cancer that develops in the gums, lips, tongue, cheek lining, mouth floor and the roof of the mouth is classified as oral cancer. It falls under the cancer group called head and neck cancer. Symptoms of oral cancer include:
Anyone who notices the symptoms listed above for longer than two weeks should head to a dentist immediately for an oral cancer screen. Oral cancer can be easily treated in its early stages, but it becomes life-threatening as it progresses.
Cancers form in the mouth when abnormal cells develop on the lips or mouth, altering their DNA. Think of DNA as a set of instructions for cells. The mutation leads to the cells getting wrong information to cells to continue to grow and divide instead of dying when due. Over time, the cancer can spread from the mouth to other parts of the head and neck. Most oral cancers develop as thin, flat cells that line the lips and inside of the mouth. Factors that can make a person more vulnerable to oral cancer include:
A general dentist might decide to diagnose oral cancer by performing procedures and tests like:
Once cancer has been detected in a patient's mouth, more tests are conducted to determine its severity. These include:
The different stages of oral cancer are denoted using roman numerals I to IV. A lower number indicates the cancer cells are confined to one region, while a higher number indicates the cancer has spread to other areas of the neck and head. How far a patient's cancer has progressed often determines how the doctor goes about treating it.
Treatment options for oral cancer include:
Call or visit our Trophy Club clinic to set up an oral cancer screening. Early detection makes a huge difference when it comes to treating oral cancer.
Request an appointment here: https://trophysmilestudio.com or call Trophy Smile Studio at (817) 210-4049 for an appointment in our Trophy Club office.
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