Oral Cancer Exam
Dentists and hygienists are the best overall defense against oral cancer – they are in fact, a lifesaver. The key is to identify oral abnormalities at their most easily treated stage of development. Fortunately, there is a simple technology to help in the fight against oral cancer.
The inside of the mouth is normally lined with a special type of skin (mucosa) that is smooth and coral pink in color. Any alteration in this appearance could be a warning sign for a pathological process. The most serious of these is oral cancer.
The following are common signs of a pathologic process or cancerous growth:
- Reddish patches (erythroplasia) or whitish patches (leukoplakia) in the mouth.
- A sore that fails to heal, and bleeds easily.
- A lump or thickening on the skin lining the inside of the mouth.
- Chronic sore throat or hoarseness.
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing.
These changes can be detected on the lips, cheeks, palate, and gum tissue around the teeth, tongue, face, and/or neck. Pain does not always occur with pathology and, curiously, is not often associated with oral cancer. However, any patient with facial and/or oral pain without an obvious cause or reason may also be at risk for oral cancer. We recommend performing an oral cancer self-examination monthly.
In addition to the conventional head and neck examination performed within our office, our Practices uses ,ViziLitePlus, an FDA approved oral lesion identification and marking system allowing dental professionals to offer superior care to patients. ViziLitePlus with TBlue630 is an oral lesion identification and marking system that used in conjunction with the conventional head and neck examination. It is comprised of a chemiluminescent light source (ViziLite) to improve the identification of lesions and blue phenothiazine dye to mark those lesions identified by ViziLite.
We recommend an annual ViziLitePlus screening and patients with a history of oral cancer should receive semi-annual ViziLitePlus screenings.