If you knew that a five-minute screening at your dentist’s office could potentially save your life, would you do it? Five minutes is a short amount of time by most standards and that’s about the length of time it takes do have your dentist perform an oral cancer screening during your routine dental examination. Although the percentage of patients who have the oral cancer screening is trending upward, only about 15 percent of patients in the United States have ever had the screening done.

According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, nearly 54,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year and only about half of those will have a survival rate of five years after the diagnosis. If found in the early stages, oral cancer patients have an 80 to 90 percent survival rate, but the majority of patients are diagnosed in the later stages of the disease after the cancer has spread. The death rate for oral cancer is higher than that of other cancers, largely because people aren’t aware of the symptoms and therefore don’t pursue the simple screening test that is available.

One of the real dangers of this cancer is that in its early stages, it can go completely unnoticed. It can be painless, and some of the physical changes that indicate the presence of cancer may not be obvious to the untrained eye. The good news is that your dentist can see or feel the tissue changes, or the actual cancer while it is still very small and in its earliest stages.

Oral Cancer Screenings at Premier Dentistry of Eagle

Dr. Shane S. Porter of Premier Dentistry of Eagle understands the importance of cancer screenings, that is why he includes it in every comprehensive examination. Dr. Porter has spent up to eight hours a day for the past twenty years examining the mouths of his patients. He knows what to look for, where to look for it, and how the tissue in your mouth should feel, which qualifies him to diagnose oral cancer if it exists. Although the exam is simple and it only takes a few minutes to conduct the test, it could literally save your life!

Possible Signs and Symptoms to Watch For

• A sore in your mouth that doesn’t heal within two weeks
• Red or white patches, pain, or numbness in the mouth or lips
• Lumps, thickening tissues, rough spots, crusty or eroded areas in your mouth or wart like masses
• Trouble chewing, swallowing, speaking, moving your jaw or tongue, or if you have a change in the way your teeth fit together when you close your mouth
• A painless lump or mass which can be felt inside the mouth or neck
• Hoarseness which lasts for a long time
• Numbness in the oral/facial region
• Persistent earache on one side

If you have any of these symptoms, it doesn’t always mean that it’s cancer, but as a precaution, you should make an appointment to see Dr. Porter to rule it out.

Risk Factors Associated with Developing Oral Cancer

• Current trends indicate that 75 percent of all oral cancers are attributed to the use of smoked and smokeless tobacco. Using cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco (basically any type of tobacco product) puts you at a much higher risk for developing oral cancer, as well as heart disease, COPD, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer, etc.
• Although smokeless tobacco is promoted as a safer alternative to smoking, it has not proven to be safer when referring to oral cancers. While it may reduce lung cancers, it has a negative effect on the rates of oral cancers, pancreatic cancer, periodontal disease, and chronic infections that it produces may even link it to heart disease. The gains against lung cancers are losses in other areas.
• Chronic alcohol abuse, or use combined with the use of tobacco multiplies the risk.
• Today, 40 percent of new diagnosis of oral cancer are young, non-smokers.
• Sun exposure is another risk factor for developing cancer around the lips and the mouth.

What to Expect During an Oral Cancer Screening

The oral cancer screening is possibly the best five minutes you will ever spend. It is such a simple, non-invasive test where your face, neck, lips, tongue and mouth are examined; there are no needles, and there is no pain.

Your mouth is one of the body’s most important early warning systems. In between dental visits, make sure you’re being watchful at home. If you feel something in your mouth or on your face has changed, call 208-546-0655 or contact Dr. Porter’s office to make an appointment.

Early Detection is Key

The best way to combat oral cancer is to be mindful of the symptoms. The earlier it is detected, the higher the success rate of treatment. The problem with oral cancer is that often it isn’t discovered until late in its development. In its early stages, oral cancer can be treated in up to 90 plus percent of cases, but if it goes undetected, those success rates start to fall. In between dental exams, watch for the following:

• Your head, neck and face are typically symmetrical. Any lumps, bumps, or swelling on one side of your face could be indications there is a problem.
• If you have a sore in your mouth that lasts more than two weeks, make an appointment with Dr. Porter and have it looked at professionally.
• Schedule a check-up with Dr. Porter every six months and make sure that part of your routine dental examination includes an oral cancer screening.

Dr. Porter has proudly served his patients from Eagle, Idaho and the surrounding communities of Star, Middleton, Meridian, Garden City, and Boise with comprehensive dental care since 1999. As your dentist, he can improve your smile, improve your confidence and self-esteem, and with a five-minute oral cancer examination, he could literally save your life! Make an appointment to see Dr. Porter today!