Oral Cancer Screenings in Mississauga, ON
Dental professionals not only take care of your teeth, but they diagnosis other diseases of the mouth, neck, and head too. During routine six-month examinations, our dentists in Mississauga, ON not only look for signs of cavities or gum disease, but they do oral cancer screenings as well. This is what you can expect during one of these screenings.
Medical History Questions
Whether you’re a new or returning patient at Millway Dental, our dental staff will ask questions about your medical history. They will want to know if you have dental prosthetics like dentures or use a retainer to keep your teeth straight. They will also ask if there is any history of cancer within your family.
Then, they will ask if you have any symptoms or issues that are troubling you. If you have the following symptoms, it is a good time to tell our dentists near you about symptoms your experiencing, such as:
- Feeling as if you have something stuck in your throat
- A sore throat
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing
- Having problems moving your tongue or jaw
- Ear pain
- Your tongue or other places in your mouth feel numb
Examining Your Mouth
After discussing any symptoms that you have, one of our dentists will physically examine your mouth. Along with looking at all sides of your teeth and gums, they will search for:
- Red or white lesions
- Hard lumps or abnormal swellings inside of your lips, cheeks, and around the tongue
- Swelling around your jaw
- They will run fingers along the side and back of your neck
- Look on the back of the tongue for dark spots
Oral cancer screenings in Mississauga, ON, must take place to find the disease as early as possible. The earlier there is a diagnosis, the better a patient’s outcome will be. Suppose our dentists find possible indications of cancer. In that case, you may need a biopsy, or you may get a referral to an oncologist, head or neck surgeon, or any other doctor that specializes in the disease.
If you’re having some of the aforementioned symptoms, make an appointment with our dentists at Millway Dental for one of their oral cancer screenings. Waiting will only worsen the disease, but an early diagnosis can save your life.