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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Oral cancer screening at MVP Family Dental
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.
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MVP Family Dental · Jenkintown, PA
The short answer
Oral cancer is a disease occurring in the mouth, on the lips, the tongue or the floor of the mouth, and it is essentially a lesion that will not heal. Most oral cancers appear on the tongue, then 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. Screening for it is carried out as part of routine dental and hygiene examinations, because caught early it usually needs far less treatment.
Oral Cancer Questions
- What is oral cancer?
- Oral cancer is 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. Most lesions in the mouth are not cancer, but something that is not going away is a reason to be seen. Screening for it is included at hygiene appointments here.
- What are the early signs?
- Red lesions or sore spots that do not heal, meaning they stay there and will not go away. Persistent ulcerations and white patches anywhere in the mouth are others. Unexplained pain with no obvious cause that keeps happening, numbness, and a lump on the gums can also occur. The common thread in all of them is persistence.
- What causes it?
- Tobacco use, including both smoking and chewing tobacco, and excessive consumption of alcoholic drinks are two of the main causes. HPV, the human papillomavirus, is a third. If any of these apply to you, mention it, because it is relevant to how closely we watch.
- Where in the mouth does it usually appear?
- Most oral cancers appear on the tongue. After that, usually the floor of the mouth, under the tongue. They can also occur on the cheeks near the gum line, on the gums or on the lips. That is why a screening covers all of those areas rather than only the obvious ones.
- Can a lump be a sign?
- A lump on your gums could be, so it is worth coming in so we can take a look. We usually check this at hygiene appointments. If something looks out of the ordinary we can do a brush biopsy and send it to a lab, or refer you to an oral surgeon. A lump is not a diagnosis, but it is a reason to be seen.
- 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. It is one of the risk factors taken into account, alongside tobacco and alcohol. Mentioning it is relevant to how closely we watch.
- What does a screening involve?
- A thorough check of your mouth and all the structures in it: the tongue, the gums, the floor of the mouth and the lips. It also includes palpation, feeling for any growths that should not be there. It happens as part of a normal appointment rather than as a separate visit. If something is found, the next step is a brush biopsy sent to a lab or a referral to an oral surgeon.
- What are the treatment options?
- Radiation, surgery and chemotherapy are the main ones. If it is caught earlier rather than later, many of those treatments may not be needed. That is the argument for keeping your check-ups, since screening is included at hygiene appointments here.
Dr. Vineetha Thomas, D.M.D.
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Dr. Priya Mathew, D.M.D.
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