By Arthur Kezian
How often do you go for a dental checkup? How often
does your dentist do a screening for oral cancer as part of your checkup?
Dentists recommend getting a dental exam once every six months.
It is important for your dentist to not
only check for possible cavities, but possible symptoms for oral cancer.
Your dentist will feel your mouth for lumps or
irregular tissues in your neck, head, oral cavity, and cheeks. He or she will
also check the soft tissues in your mouth looking for sore spots and any tissue
that is discolored. This type of screening should be done every six months for
preventative measures.
Every year more than 30,000 new
cases of oral cancer are diagnosed in the United States. Oral cancer can be
fatal if not treated properly in its early stages. The earlier the cancer is
found, the earlier it can get treated. This is why it is very important to keep
up with routine dental exams. Your dentist should
make sure to send you reminder letters every six months or so.
Some of the possible signs for
oral cancer include lumps or thick spots, sores that do not heal and/or are
constantly bleeding, soreness of the throat, hoarseness, numbness of the
tongue, difficulty moving the jaw or tongue, or difficulty chewing or
swallowing. Sometimes ear pains are also associated with oral cancer we well as
changes in the way teeth fit.
Ask your dentist for more
information regarding oral cancer. It is important to take action from the
beginning. It is better to be safe when it comes to something as important as
this. Make sure to get yourself checked every time you visit your
dentist.
Dr. Arthur A.
Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777 http://www.drkezian.com
-N.S.
