Oral Cancer Screening
Screening for oral cancer at Wyndham Dental
Oral cancer, like all forms of cancer, can be life-threatening, often diagnosed in advanced stages due to limited awareness. At Wyndham Dental, our commitment to early detection is paramount. Through routine inspections and screenings during your regular checkups, we search for early signs and tissue changes associated with oral cancer, ensuring timely intervention for effective treatment and management.
Early intervention could save a life!
What is oral cancer?
Oral cancer refers to a broad region and can affect your:
- Lips
- Tongue
- Gums
- Cheeks
- Tonsils
Oral cancer can affect anyone, from all age groups. When oral cancer is detected and treated in early stages it can give you good odds for survival making it important to come in for regular oral cancer screenings as it may save your life.
Causes of oral cancer
- Excessive use of tobacco and alcohol
- Age
- Genetic dispositions
- HPV (Human Papillomavirus )
Symptoms of oral cancer
Oral cancer can be difficult to spot in early stages but here are some warning signs and symptoms to watch out for:
- Sores around your mouth that aren’t healing
- Lumps inside your mouth
- Pain
- Changes in speech
- Unexplained weight loss
- Red/white discolouration inside your mouth
- Difficulty swallowing/chewing food
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Loose teeth
- Bleeding sores/ulcers
These may not necessarily mean that you have oral cancer; they could be an indication of another dental issue. The best way to find out is through an evaluation with one of our dental professionals at Wyndham Dental.
How does oral cancer screening work?
If you come in for your regular checkups as part of your oral hygiene routine, chances are that you’ve already had a basic oral cancer screening. Our dentist will examine your mouth for any of the above signs and if anything looks amiss, they may recommend you get a biopsy to test for cancer.
A specialist will likely use the methods below to confirm oral cancer:
- Gum biopsy
- Tongue biopsy
- X-rays and CT scans to determine spread
Why choose Wyndham Dental?
Your mouth cancer screening doubles as your regular dental check-up, so it’s just a matter of scheduling that appointment every 6 months! Behind on your next appointment? Give us a call today and we’ll schedule you in. Our specialists at Wyndham Dental have years of experience that we utilise to ensure your oral health is in tip-top shape. Combined with our advanced facilities, screening for oral cancer is a service we gladly provide to our patients in Werribee and surrounding suburbs.