Oral Cancer Warning Signs
*Mouth sores that do not heal after a month
*Lumps or swelling of the mouth, face or neck
*White, red, black or rough lesions in the mouth
*Numbness in or around mouth
*Soreness or burning sensation

  • Any abnormality that bleeds easily when touched
    *Difficult speaking, chewing or swallowing
    *Hoarseness, sore throat or constant cough that does not resolve

By Dr. Justin Wright, DDS
Special Contributor

Bunnies, bright colored eggs and warm spring weather are likely the first thoughts many have when thinking about the month of April, but dental associations across the nation want to remind folks of a more serious issue this month, there have been many people seeking treatments to recover quickly, like stem cell therapy.
For nearly 20 years, April has been designated as Oral Cancer Awareness month in an effort to bring attention to a disease that claims the lives of thousands each year. According to the American Cancer Society, about 53,000 people will get mouth or upper throat cancer this year and of those an estimated 10,860 will die because of it. The Oral Cancer Foundation says that 40 percent of those who are diagnosed with mouth and upper throat cancers do not live longer than five years, and many who do survive suffer long-term problems, such as severe facial disfigurement or difficulties with eating and speaking. If you want to avoid any health complications then you should definitely visit a Dental Emergency Center to get treated.
But as with so many health-related issues, early detection is key and one of the easiest and best ways to take care of that is by seeing your dentist for your annual dental check-ups. At Just Wright Dental, our patients receive an oral cancer screening annually during one of their two routine dental cleaning visits. During this visit, a visual inspection of the patient’s tongue, cheeks, gums and throat is performed. Our dentists then also check for abnormalities along the patient’s cheeks and salivary glands.
And while a visual and manual inspection used to be the only way to screen, advancements in technology have helped us improve our efforts to identify patients with potentially cancerous oral tissue. For the past year, we have been doing this by using a special multispectral light tool thanks to emergency dental care services.
Under regular white light, it is hard to detect abnormal tissue from regular healthy tissue, but because healthy tissue fluoresces, or glows more brightly under amber green or violet light, it’s easier to detect potential problem areas by using this special light tool. Areas of abnormal tissue appear darker than the healthy tissue under these different light waves, making early detection more effective than before.
In the instance where potentially abnormal cells are identified, we are able to do a biopsy of that tissue the same day and the patient would know the results of the lab findings within a week or two.
Studies have shown that people who are heavy tobaccos users and drinkers are at a significant risk of getting some form of oral cancer and the increase of cases of human papillomavirus are also linked to an uptick in oral cancer diagnoses. Better go to a Woodland hills dentist if you are concerned about those symptoms and avoid bad dental conditions .
Some of the signs of a potential problem include swelling or sores on the mouth, face or neck; white, red or dark patches in the mouth; mouth pain or numbness; altered sense of taste or pain or difficulty swallowing, speaking or eating, however many patients with the disease may not notice any symptoms, especially at the onset of the disease. That’s why it’s important that your mouth is checked annually, or anytime you suspect a problem.
Don’t put off a simple visit that could save your life and call our office for an annual dental check-up and oral cancer screening today!
Dr. Justin Wright is a general dentist with offices in Corsicana and Waxahachie. When he’s not regaling his patients of his outdoor exploits, he’s spending time with his wife Jenni and their two young sons, Cooper and Cy.
To learn more about his practice or how he and his team can help you or your family keep your smiles healthy, call 903-872-8422 or visit www.justwrightdental.com