Oral cancer belongs to the orificial cancers, and can develop in any part of the oral cavity or oropharynx. The main reason people die from oral cancer is that there is no systematic approach for oral cancer detection. However, more and more dentists are now starting to look for oral cancer during general annual exams. These early oral cancer screening exams can help dental professionals find malignant lesions early, greatly increasing a patient's odds of a successful recovery.
Who Needs an Oral Cancer Screening Exam?
Oral cancer may form in any part of the mouth or throat, although most cases begin in the tongue and in the floor of the mouth. Oral cancer is most common among people over the age of 45, however, the number of new cases has actually increased in adults under the age of 40. You can take an active role in preventing oral cancer by avoiding tobacco use – this includes cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco – and heavy alcohol use. Some other risk factors include a family history of cancer and excessive exposure to the sun.
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The Oral Cancer Screening Exam Process
An oral cancer screening test can detect a variety of oral cancers before you have any symptoms. If your dentist detects a potentially malignant lesion during your annual oral exam, he or she will do a full oral cancer screening test. OralAdvance™ is a good complementary oral cancer screening exam that can be used along with fluorescence technology to detect oral cancer. Having to undergo an oral screening test doesn't mean that you have cancer, but that you need to undergo further diagnostic tests.
Learn more about VELscope oral cancer screening, another type of early detection tool.