You already know checkups are important, but they’re about more than just having your teeth checked for gum disease or cavities. Regular checkups also give our doctors a chance to perform regular oral cancer screenings.
Every year, oral cancer claims thousands of lives—more than Hodgkin’s disease, lymphoma, cervical cancer, laryngeal cancer, thyroid cancer or skin cancer. The most common risk factors for it include tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption, though an increasing number of cases—in both women and men—have been linked to the same strain of HPV behind cervical cancer.
All of which explains why it’s important for every patient to be screened.
During regular checkups at the office of Bagley, Goodwin and Hrinda, we’re happy to look for signs of oral cancer with an oral cancer screening. Some of the most common signs include:
- A sore or lesion in the mouth that won’t heal
- A lump or thickening in the cheek
- A patch of white or red on the gums, tongue, tonsil, or lining of the mouth
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or moving the tongue and the jaw
- Swelling around the jaw
- Chronic hoarseness
When oral cancer is treated early, the survival rate for it climbs to as high as 80% to 90%, proving that, as with many other oral health issues, early treatment is vital.
Is it time for your next appointment with our Greenfield dental team? Call Bagley, Goodwin & Hrinda today to schedule a visit. Our doctors serve patients from Greenfield, Deerfield, Conway, Shelburne Falls, Turner Falls, Northfield, Amherst, Northampton, and beyond.