Oral Cancer Screenings in Seattle, WA
Preventive dental treatments seek to safeguard patients against potentially serious oral health issues. One of the scarier dental issues to be on guard for is oral cancer. Oral cancer can be an intimidating diagnosis, but it’s fortunately very treatable as long as it’s caught early. Reen Chung, DDS offers oral cancer screenings as part of your regular biannual dental cleanings and exams. If you’re looking to get an oral cancer screen in Northgate or the surrounding communities, we’re here to help!
What to Expect During An Oral Cancer Screen
Oral cancer screenings are conveniently performed during your routine dental checkups. After checking for other common issues like inflammation, gum disease, or tooth decay, we’ll do a thorough inspection for any indicators of oral cancer. We thoroughly check the full mouth as well as the jaw and neck. If our team notices any potential signs of oral cancer, we may go on to perform additional tests. In some cases, biopsies are required. During a biopsy, a small sample of any abnormalities is sent to a lab to check for cancer cells.
Early warning signs for oral cancer aren’t always obvious, and should generally be diagnosed by a professional. However, there are some symptoms you can keep an eye out for if you’re concerned. Those include:
- Persistent sores in the mouth
- White or red spots
- Abnormal lumps on your neck or cheeks
- Pain when chewing or swallowing
- Chronic bad breath
How is Oral Cancer Treated?
There are many ways to treat oral cancer depending on how severe it is. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or targeted drug therapy make use of radiation, chemicals, or medicine to combat oral cancer. In other cases, surgery may be necessary. If a tumor needs to be surgically removed it can be a more invasive procedure that requires preparation and time to recover from.
It’s always a good idea to keep up with preventive care. Whether you’ve stayed on top of biannual exams or you haven’t been to the dentist in a while, Reen Chung, DDS is happy to help with your dental needs. Call us today to schedule!