Today, the Oral Cancer Foundation estimates that nearly 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer each year. Typically identified by a lump or ulcer in the mouth, this disease can cause a variety of painful symptoms. In some cases, the condition may even prove fatal. Fortunately, there are several ways that dental care professionals improve the way patients discover and treat this problem. If you’re concerned about your cancer risk, here are a few ways dentists and oral surgeons may help save your life.       

Early Detection

Going to your dentist every six months isn’t just a way to protect your teeth from cavities—it’s also a way to catch cancer early. During exams, dental care providers inspect every aspect of the mouth where oral cancer may develop —including the cheeks, gums, lips, and throat. If they happen to spot a potential problem area, they can guide you through the steps to ensure you receive a timely diagnosis and address cancer when it is most receptive to treatment.

Monitoring & Diagnosis

If there is an ulcer or lump in your mouth of concern, dentists can’t provide an immediate diagnosis. Depending on the extent of the issue, they will likely schedule follow-up appointments to see if the spot heals or gets worse. If a diagnosis is needed, your dentist should help connect you to an oral pathology specialist. These pathologists will take a small sample—known as a biopsy—of the affected tissue. After observing the cellular health of the biopsy, they can make a clear diagnosis.

Surgical Treatment & Management

Oral cancer is sometimes treated with radiation or chemotherapy. While effective, these treatments can lead to a variety of negative side effects—such as dry mouth. If you do experience dry mouth during treatment, your dentist could help you explore treatments to increase saliva production.  In other cases, oral surgery may be the best treatment option. During the procedure, an oral surgeon will make sure the cancer is totally removed while simultaneously reducing harm to healthy tissues.   

Providing oral pathology and surgical services in the Baraboo, WI, area, Oral Surgery Center, S.C. is an exceptional resource for oral cancer detection and treatment. Under the care of these oral surgeons, patients can receive proactive treatment within a comfortable environment. Visit this practice online to learn about the many procedures they can perform—including cancerous tissue removal, dental implants, and wisdom tooth extraction. To schedule a consultation with an oral surgeon, call (608) 356-2112.