How Can Dr. Malek Help With Your Oral Cancer Screenings?
Contact Malek Periodontics today to schedule an appointment and be on your way to a healthy smile, healthy life.
An annual oral cancer screening with Dr. Malek helps spot any early problems with a thorough examination. These are recommended by the American Cancer Society for any of our patients who are over 40 or who have other risk factors.
The American Cancer Society recommends oral cancer annual screenings for anyone over 40. It’s an easy, painless part of dental exams that can provide early detection of possible issues. Oral cancer screening includes checks for abnormalities in the mouth, as well as on the face, glands, and neck area. This can be scheduled with our office as a yearly visit, or as recommended. During this visit, Dr. Malek will perform a comprehensive screening to check for any irregularities.
This kind of cancer involves uncontrollable cell growth in your mouth. These cells enter and damage surrounding tissue, often appearing as a growth or sore that won’t heal or go away.
There are several types of oral cancer, and they can present in a variety of ways. Other than lesions that don’t heal, some symptoms are lumps or bumps, rough tissue, unexplained numbness in one area, velvety white and/or red patches in the mouth, and ear pain.
Oral cancer screening can be performed as part of a regular office visit, or as a separate appointment. Contact our office for more information on scheduling this service.
Checking your mouth monthly for any indications of problems is easy. Use a bright light and a mirror to examine your lips and gums, insides of your cheeks, top, and bottom of your tongue, and use your fingers to check your lymph nodes for swelling or sensitivity. Get in touch with our office should you notice any of the symptoms listed above.
Dr. Malek will perform a biopsy if any abnormalities, lesions, lumps, or leukoplakia are found during your exam. She works exclusively with Scripps Oral Pathology in San Diego to obtain a precise diagnosis.
Tobacco use is a huge risk factor. Smokeless tobacco users are 50 times more likely to develop oral cancer, and smokers are six times more likely. Excessive alcohol use, sun exposure, and Human Papillomavirus exposure also increase risk.
Oral cancer is treated like other cancers. Surgery is performed to remove cancerous growths, and a course of radiation or chemotherapy is used to eliminate any cancer cells that remain. With early detection, the success rate is much improved.
To reduce your risk of oral cancer:
Contact Malek Periodontics today to schedule an appointment and be on your way to a healthy smile, healthy life.
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