Oral Cancer

Oral Cancer, or cancer of the mouth area, is something everyone is concerned about, but in almost every case, the key to beating it, is early detection.  As in other types of cancers, the sooner it is discovered, the faster it can be treated before it becomes worse, and the better likelihood that a patients recovery prognosis will be positive.

One important aspect of a routine dental examination, is checking the mouth for signs of early stages of oral cancer.  Oral Cancer has many causes, and there are many risk factors which can contribute to it, such as heavy smoking.  Males over the age of 40 who smoke, and/or heavily use alcohol tend to show the highest combination of risk factors for the disease, making them almost 5 times more likely to get Oral Cancer.    There has been an increased number of women that are getting it in recent years, also linked to heavy smoking.  Despite these two at-risk groups, anyone can get it, and it is important that it be caught early.

Some signs of Oral Cancer include, red or white spots which appear in the mouth.  Some are harmless, but a professional like Dr. Jennifer Bartlett can help rule these out.  Sores, painful swallowing, and ear aches may also be the pre-cursors of Oral Cancer.  As you can see, symptoms such as these may be benign and harmless, or they may indicate the need for further treatment, only a professional like Dr. Bartlett can help a patient know for certain, so a regular dental checkup is vital to early detection.

Dr. Jennifer Bartlett has been trained to look for many different indicators concerning the development of Cancer in the mouth that she is looks for during an examination, it is important that the patient not try to use any of these possible symptoms to diagnose themselves.  If you suspect that you may have a dental problem that needs to be checked into, which may be related to Oral Cancer, call Dr. Bartlett’s office, where she can take a look at your situation carefully to see if Cancer can be ruled out.  In cases where it is present, early detection is the best chance at a cure.