Is oral cancer screening necessary?
Absolutely! As with any type of cancer, early detection and diagnosis is key to ensuring a better chance of survival. Dr. Enrique Darancou understands the importance of screening for oral cancer and provides them with each appointment. During the oral cancer screening, the dentist is looking for the following indications of possibly cancerous lesions:
- Red/white patches on the skin
- Unusual sores
- Areas that do not heal
- Lumps and swelling
If there are any areas of concern, the dentist may recommend doing a biopsy to check for cancerous cells. This is done to confirm that cancer is present and allow the patient and doctor to determine the best course of action for treatment.
How often should you get oral cancer screenings?
We recommend completing an oral cancer screening at each routine dental visit, which is scheduled for every six months. However, if patients notice an area of concern that they want evaluated by our dental team at El Paso Modern Dentistry, they are encouraged to make an appointment at our facility.
Who is at risk of developing oral cancer?
Cancer can impact anyone, but there are certain risk factors that can make a patient more apt to develop oral cancer than others. These include:
- Middle to older-aged patients
- Moderate to heavy alcohol drinker
- Long-time tobacco use
- Chronic sun exposure
- Genetic factors
- Patients with human papilloma virus, or HPV16
