Mouth cancer screening during dental check-ups

Never something we want to think about, but can really make all the difference. Mouth cancer screening Stevenage is one of the key roles we perform at our dental practice.

Oral carcinoma is one of the most common forms of cancer in smokers. Thankfully, they are also common to recover from and relatively easy to operate on if necessary, but early detection is one of the biggest factors in the prognosis. Screening is part of the standard 6-monthly check-up at our clinic; it is carried out based on observation looking for odd formation of tissue or the start of suspicious growths. Not only are these growths usually painless, but can occur quite slowly meaning patients would not notice of their own volition. Growths that do cause any kind of discomfort or rubbing, are usually put down to other things like mouth ulcers or minor gum disease .

High risk groups

There is a strong connection between those consuming high alcohol content spirits whilst smoking, as a dual risk to developing mouth cancer. Regular consumption of alcohol disrupts oral tissues allowing carcinogenic products, such as smoke, to penetrate into a tissue. If you are in a high-risk group it is recommended that you get screened once a year, so your twice yearly check-up and mouth cancer screening Stevenage would have you covered. If anything is of concern you should follow up with your standard physician or GP and we would be happy to provide a statement of our observations if they require it.

Just mouth ulcers?

Due to the prevalence of misdiagnosing tumours as chronic mouth ulcers, if you have been suffering with a mouth ulcer that has not responded to treatment after 4 weeks of medicated mouthwashes and self-care, please book yourself in for an appointment as soon as possible.  There are several prescription medications that we can provide to relieve chronic mouth ulcers, as well as ensuring that it is nothing more serious.

If you are concerned about the risk of mouth cancer for yourself or any of your loved ones, please feel free to book an appointment at our clinic, as we would prefer to give you an all clear and have you put off your concerns. There is no harm in double checking.

Dental phobias

We understand that attending the clinic can be particularly difficult if you have a dental aversion or deep distrust of dentistry in general, but if you do have a suspicious growth, it is very important to have it checked out. You do not have to consent to any further work if you do not wish to. Our mouth cancer screening Stevenage is not there to make you feel guilty or to judge you, simply to help provide some guidance towards better overall health and to ensure that you do not have any greater issues that need to be addressed.

Feel free to contact the clinic in order to find out more information. We are always empathetic to the needs of nervous patients, taking each patient’s care at the pace they require.