The Oral Cancer Foundation says approximately 53,000 people in the United States will receive an oral cancer diagnosis in 2019. Oral cancers can include:
- Mouth cancer
- Tongue cancer
- Tonsil cancer
- Throat cancer
It’s up to a dentist with a specially-trained eye like Dr. Stuntz to carefully check any abnormalities or bumps. She looks deep within your mouth, throat, and lips by conducting a thorough visual and manual screening. She can look at what’s going on inside your mouth and throat to look for abnormalities. She’ll look for pre-cancerous warning signs. Dr. Stuntz can also tell if you’ve got a more frequent dental issue such as an ulcer, a bite to your cheek, or painful spots from dentures that no longer seem to fit quite right.
These things share many similarities to dangerous lesions and need to be monitored by a dental health professional. The important thing to remember about oral cancer is the earlier we detect and diagnose it, the better chance you have of overcoming it. Remember this: if you have a sore, discoloration, irritation, or hoarseness that hangs around for more than two weeks, with or without treatment, you should call us for an appointment right away, so we can take a look.
