Very Important

Of the many dental services we perform on a regular basis, there are few that are more important than your oral cancer screenings. During your routine dental visit, we examine your mouth for overall wellness, which includes an oral cancer screening. These consults check for cancer in all of the parts that make up the mouth, including:

• lips,
• roof and floor of the mouth,
• gums,
• tongue, and
• the lining of the cheek.

Besides a visual examination of your mouth, we will also feel the tissue of your mouth and throat to detect any abnormalities.

Routine Visits

Like other cancers, oral can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated early. You are the most important factor in the early diagnosis of oral cancer, which you accomplish through routine screenings recommended by our office. For those who pursue regular screenings, this can dramatically increase the chances the disease will be detected early and treated effectively, which in turn will dramatically increase your chance of recovery.

Our dentists have the training to identify the early signs and symptoms of oral cancer and pre-cancerous conditions. While these symptoms may be caused by other, less serious problems, it is very important to visit our office to rule out the possibility of oral cancer. The most common symptoms of oral cancer include:

• A sore that doesn’t heal
• Red or white spots anywhere in the oral cavity
• Sore throat
• A sore that bleeds easily or does not heal
• A lump, thickening, or rough spot
• Pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips
• Difficulty chewing, swallowing or moving the jaw or tongue

We recommend you make an appointment if you have any persistent signs and symptoms that bother you and last more than two weeks.

Oral cancer screenings are a fixture of our regular dental consultations. These screenings are a vital step in promoting long-term dental health and preventing major health problems. As a result, if we find an area of concern, we may perform a simple test, such as a brush test, which collects cells from a suspicious lesion in the mouth to be sent to a laboratory for analysis or we may recommend a biopsy.

Risk factors

Factors that can increase your risk of mouth cancer include:

• Tobacco use of any kind,
  • including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco and snuff, among others
• Heavy alcohol use
• Excessive sun exposure to your lips
• A sexually transmitted virus called human papillomavirus (HPV)

Schedule dental visits for you and your family today by calling The Right Smile Center in Sandy Springs at 404-256-3620 or in Chamblee at 770-455-6076. Our dental office is conveniently located on Carpenter Drive in Sandy Springs and Chamblee Dunwoody Road in Chamblee. We serve patients from Sandy Springs, Chamblee, Brookhaven, Roswell, Dunwoody, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Buckhead, Marietta, East Cobb and surrounding communities. We welcome new patients and will be happy to answer all of your questions over the phone or in person. Our dentists and team look forward to making you, and your loved ones, smile!