Unfortunately, statistics surrounding oral cancer are not ideal. However, when caught and treated in its earliest stages, recovery rates may be promising. Thankfully, oral cancer screenings are performed during most hygiene exams by the dentist. Englewood dentists, Drs. Louis & Dominic Vitangeli, provide a complete oral cancer screening, beginning with your very first visit in our office.
Knowing the risk factors around oral cancer is your key to preventing this fatal condition. Lifestyle habits, such as heavy smoking or drinking, put you at the highest risk for oral cancers. Prolonged exposure to the sun has been linked to cancer of the lips. Human Papillomavirus has been shown to put a person at risk as well. If you feel you are subject to any of these risk factors, it’s important to visit your dentist on a regular basis, and let him or her know immediately if you show any symptoms of oral cancer.
If you experience any of the following, inside or outside of the mouth and lips, they may be signs of oral cancer, and dentists of Englewood will agree that you should schedule an oral cancer screening as soon as possible:
- Red, white or gray patches
- Any sore that bleeds easily and won’t heal
- Thick, hard spots or lumps
- Rough, crusted areas
- Any numb spots
- Changes in bite
- Trouble chewing, swallowing, speaking, or moving the tongue
Drs. Vitangeli and staff put your oral health first. If you have concerns about oral cancer, or haven’t had an oral cancer screening for some time, we invite you to schedule your exam in our office. Call today, and see what makes Drs. Louis & Dominic Vitangeli the leading dentists of Englewood OH.
