Why Oral Cancer Screening Is Critical
We have already stated that the early discovery of oral cancer makes a big difference in survival rates, but you need to know how dramatic this difference is. With early detection, the 5-year survival rate for oral cancers is about 83% or five out of six. With later detection, survival rates drop to around 50%, just one in two.
Another significant issue is that the population diagnosed with cancer is changing. In the past, most cancer cases were diagnosed among older individuals with known risk factors. These risk factors include:
- Tobacco use
- Alcohol consumption
- Family history of oral cancer
- Compromised immune system
- Previous cancer occurrence
- High UV exposure
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection
Some of these risk factors are modifiable. Quit smoking or other tobacco use. This won’t help reduce your cancer risk; it can improve your oral health. Quitting tobacco will reduce your risk of tooth loss and dental implant failure. Reduce alcohol consumption. Always remember to use sunscreen when you are out in the sun; if you are using sunscreen, remember to cover your lips with a protective balm.
In addition to addressing risk factors, maintaining general and preventive dentistry practices, such as teeth cleaning and checkups, is crucial. Regular dental visits are an essential part of preventative oral health care and can aid in the early detection of oral cancer, ensuring that any potential issues are addressed promptly.
However, more oral cancer cases are being diagnosed among people who have no known risk factors. This underscores the importance of regular screenings and maintaining good oral health practices.
Oral Cancer Warning Signs to Watch for
In addition to getting screenings as part of your routine dental care, you must be vigilant for potential cancer symptoms. After all, no one knows your mouth better than you, so you should tell your dental team or dentist if you experience any of the following:
- A lump, thick patch, sore, or irritation in your mouth, lip, or throat
- Red or white patch in your mouth
- Persistent sore throat
- A feeling that something is stuck in your throat
- Difficulty swallowing or chewing
- Changes to your voice, including hoarseness, lost voice, or difficulty speaking
- A lump in your neck
- Limited or painful movement of your jaw or tongue
- Change in your bite or the way your dentures fit
- Swelling in the mouth
- Mouth pain or bleeding
- Numb areas in the mouth
- Ear pain
If these last more than two weeks, schedule an appointment with a dentist or doctor as soon as possible. Since some of these symptoms–like changes in your bite and ear pain–might be related to temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ/TMD), seeing a TMJ dentist can help you eliminate that possibility.
Traditional Oral Cancer Screening Methods
Traditionally, dentists perform a visual and/or tactile oral cancer screening method. This helps them check for many oral cancer symptoms you might not have noticed. If they detect areas of concern in either exam, they will refer patients for additional evaluation to diagnose or identify the tissue.
At our dental office, we may use these in addition to VELscope.
Visual Exam for Oral Cancer Screening
Dentists sometimes use a tongue depressor or their fingers to move your tongue out of the way. Many dentists use a dental mirror and light to improve visibility.
This helps the dentist to be able to inspect your:
- Gums
- Tongue, including the top, bottom, and rear
- Lips
- Back of the throat
They essentially want to see everything. However, cancers and precancerous lesions are not always easy to spot, which is part of the reason they perform a tactile exam as well.
Tactile Exam for Oral Cancer Screening
In a tactile exam, your dentist will touch different areas of your mouth to identify any swollen areas. The dentist will feel for hard lumps, rough patches, thickened areas, and areas that are sensitive or start to bleed when touched.
In some cases, they may be felt along the outside of the mouth, neck, and face toward the ear and temporomandibular joint.
Benefits of VELscope
VELscope is not the only cancer screening technology available, but it does have some advantages over other technologies. These include:
Traditional Oral Cancer Screening Methods
Traditionally, dentists perform a visual and/or tactile oral cancer screening method. This helps them check for many oral cancer symptoms you might not have noticed.
If they detect areas of concern in either exam, they will refer patients for additional evaluation to diagnose or identify the tissue.
At our dental office, we may use these in addition to VELscope.
Visual Exam for Oral Cancer Screening
Dentists sometimes use a tongue depressor or their fingers to move your tongue out of the way. Many dentists use a dental mirror and light to improve visibility.
This helps the dentist to be able to inspect your:
- Gums
- Tongue, including the top, bottom, and rear
- Lips
- Back of the throat
They essentially want to see everything. However, cancers and precancerous lesions are not always easy to spot, which is part of the reason they perform a tactile exam as well.
Tactile Exam for Oral Cancer Screening
In a tactile exam, your dentist will touch different areas of your mouth to identify any swollen areas. The dentist will feel for hard lumps, rough patches, thickened areas, and areas that are sensitive or start to bleed when touched.
In some cases, they may be felt along the outside of the mouth, neck, and face toward the ear and temporomandibular joint.
- No discomfort and no risk
- Doesn’t require any special rinses
- The compact design of handpiece allows for easy use in all areas of the mouth, including upper throat
- It’s quick: only takes two minutes
- High sensitivity (98-100%) and specificity (94-100%)
These make VELscope a great cancer screening tool for dentists.
How VELscope Works
Oral tissue responds differently to light depending on whether it’s healthy or abnormal. But it doesn’t always respond to all light differently. Often, the full spectrum of light reflects from healthy and unhealthy tissues in the same way, making them impossible for a dentist to distinguish in a normal exam. However, under certain colors of light, they respond very differently, causing abnormal lesions to stand out.
VELscope uses a particular color of light that makes healthy tissues glow a bright green. But abnormal tissue remains dark. This tells us that you have an area of concern.
VELscope is a cancer screening tool, not a cancer diagnosis tool. It won’t tell us that you have cancer; it just identifies unhealthy regions in the mouth that may be cancerous. If we identify such a region, we will refer you to an oral surgeon who will perform a biopsy—take a small tissue sample—to determine whether the area is cancerous.
Get Oral Cancer Screening in Blue Bell
If you have noticed any concerning symptoms that might indicate cancer, you should schedule an appointment with a Dr. Siegel to have it checked out. Even if you don’t have worrisome symptoms, it’s worth mentioning at your next routine checkup.
If you are looking for a dentist who includes VELscope oral cancer screening in their practice, please call (610) 272-0828 or use our online contact form to book an appointment at Dental Excellence of Blue Bell.
