Conditions
Oral Cancer in Jenkintown, PA
A sore that will not heal is worth having looked at.
Oral cancer occurs in the mouth — the lips, the tongue, the floor of the mouth. It is essentially a lesion that will not heal. We check for it at your hygiene appointments, because caught early it usually needs far less treatment.
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The short answer
Oral cancer screening at MVP Family Dental
Screening for oral cancer, a disease occurring in the mouth, lips, tongue or floor of the mouth, carried out as part of routine dental and hygiene examinations.
Most oral cancers appear on the tongue. After that, usually the floor of the mouth, under the tongue — and they can also occur on the cheeks near the gum line, on the gums, or on the lips.
Nothing here is a diagnosis, and most lesions in the mouth are not cancer. But something that is not going away is a reason to be seen rather than to wait.
What to look for
Signs that do not go away
The common thread in all of these is persistence. A sore spot that heals in a week is ordinary; one that is still there weeks later is not.
- Sores or red lesions that do not healThey stay there and will not go away.
- Ulcerations that persistAnywhere in the mouth, not clearing up on their own.
- White patchesThat are not going away, anywhere in the mouth.
- Unexplained painPain in the mouth with no obvious cause that keeps happening.
- NumbnessNot always significant, but one of the symptoms that can occur.
- A lump on the gumsWorth coming in so we can take a look.
Risk factors
What raises the risk
Two of the main causes are within a patient’s control, and one is a virus.
- TobaccoBoth smoking and chewing tobacco.
- AlcoholExcessive consumption of alcoholic drinks.
- HPVThe human papillomavirus. If contracted, it can lead to a higher chance of developing oral cancer.
If any of these apply to you, mention it — it is relevant to how closely we watch.
The screening
What a screening actually involves
It is a thorough check of your mouth and all the structures in it, and it happens as part of a normal appointment rather than as a separate visit.
- A full visual checkTongue, gums, the floor of the mouth and the lips.
- PalpationFeeling for any growths that should not be there.
- Next steps if something is foundA brush biopsy sent to a lab, or a referral to an oral surgeon.
How a lesion is assessed
We are trained in pathology, so we can tell when a lesion is a variation of normal and when it is not within normal limits. If it looks out of the ordinary, we will say so and explain what happens next.
- Treatment options for oral cancer include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
- Caught earlier rather than later, much of that may not be needed.
- Which is the argument for keeping your check-ups.
- Screening is included at your hygiene appointments here.
Two generations of dentists, one shared commitment to helping Jenkintown families eat, speak and smile with confidence.
MVP Family Dental · Jenkintown, PA
Oral Cancer Questions
- What is oral cancer?
- A disease that occurs in the mouth. It can be on the lips, on the tongue or on the floor of the mouth, and it is essentially a lesion that will not heal and usually needs to be removed.
- What are the early signs?
- Red lesions or sore spots that do not heal — they stay there and will not go away. Persistent ulcerations and white patches are others, along with unexplained pain or numbness in the mouth.
- What causes it?
- Tobacco use, including smoking and chewing tobacco, and excessive consumption of alcoholic drinks.
- Where in the mouth does it usually appear?
- Most oral cancers appear on the tongue. After that the floor of the mouth, under the tongue, and it can also be on the cheeks near the gum line, on the gums or on the lips.
- Can a lump be a sign?
- A lump on your gums could be. Come in and we will take a look — we usually check this at hygiene appointments, and we can do a brush biopsy and send it to a lab, or refer you to an oral surgeon.
- What is the connection between HPV and oral cancer?
- HPV is the human papillomavirus. If contracted, it can lead to a higher chance of developing oral cancer.
- What does a screening involve?
- A thorough check of your mouth and all the structures in it — tongue, gums, floor of the mouth and lips — along with some palpation, feeling for any growths that should not be there.
- What are the treatment options?
- Radiation, surgery and chemotherapy are the main ones. If it is caught earlier rather than later, which is why check-ups matter, many of those treatments may not be needed.
Dr. Vineetha Thomas, D.M.D.
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Dr. Priya Mathew, D.M.D.
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