Oral cancer is among the most curable cancers when detected early, and among the most dangerous when it is not. At Aster Dental Centre in SE Edmonton, oral cancer screening is included in every dental examination at 1265 Aster Blvd. Dr. Khushali Bhanushali, DDS, check every patient for early signs of abnormality in the mouth, throat, and jaw during the standard exam. No separate appointment, no extra fee.
During an oral cancer screening at Aster Dental Centre, the dentist visually inspects the lips, gums, tongue, floor of the mouth, inside of the cheeks, the soft and hard palate, and the back of the throat. The screening also includes gentle palpation of the neck and jaw to check for enlarged or unusual lymph nodes.
The entire process takes 2 to 3 minutes as part of the regular exam. No dyes, lights, or additional instruments are needed for a standard visual screening. If an unusual area is found, the dentist will note its size, location, and appearance and determine whether a 2-week monitoring period is appropriate or whether an immediate referral is warranted.
The most common warning signs of oral cancer include sores or ulcers in the mouth that do not heal within 2 weeks, white or red patches on the tongue, gums, or inner cheeks, persistent sore throat or difficulty swallowing, numbness or tingling in the mouth, and lumps or thickening in the jaw, neck, or cheek.
Many of these symptoms have benign explanations and are not cancer. What matters is persistence. A canker sore that heals in 7 to 10 days is normal. A white patch that has been in the same spot for a month is not. At Aster Dental Centre, the dentist documents any suspicious findings at your check-up and follows up at the next appointment to confirm healing or refer appropriately.
The Canadian Dental Association recommends an oral cancer screening at every regular dental check-up, typically once or twice per year. At Aster Dental Centre, the screening is built into every exam at no additional cost, so patients who attend their check-ups are automatically screened.
Adults over 40, tobacco users, heavy alcohol consumers, and patients with a history of HPV have a higher lifetime risk of oral cancer and should not delay their regular check-ups. In our Edmonton practice, these patients are noted in the chart and the dentist pays particular attention to any changes at successive visits.
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