Oral Cancer Screenings in Pittston, PA

Oral Cancer Screenings in Pittston, PA
Oral Cancer Screenings in Pittston, PA

A vital dental service that you may have never heard of takes place during routine examinations and cleanings when you visit your dentist every six months. Besides checking your teeth and gums for problems, our dentists at Polit & Costello Dentistry also perform oral cancer screenings near you. Although cancer is a scary word for most people, catching this cancer in its early stages can save your life.

What Causes Oral Cancer?

Oral or mouth cancer has many factors that cause it. While more men than women get it, it can develop in anyone. However, lifestyle habits are the primary factors of its development. Some of the causes of cancer include:

  • Heavy drinking
  • Smoking tobacco products
  • Excessive sun exposure
  • HPV, human papillomavirus
  • Age, because people over 40 develop it more frequently

What are the Symptoms of Oral Cancer?

During the first stage of this cancer, the symptoms may be so subtle that you may not notice or feel them. You may attribute some of the signs to other problems. Here are some of the symptoms you need to notice:

  • Red or white lesions in the mouth that don’t heal
  • A sore, lump, or thick tissue on a lip, in the mouth or throat
  • Ear pain
  • Trouble swallowing, as if there is a lump in your throat.
  • Numbness in the mouth
  • Trouble moving your tongue or jaw.

What is the Prognosis for Oral Cancer?

If our dentists near you spot the early signs of cancer during oral cancer screenings in Pittston, PA, the prognosis often gives the patients an excellent chance of survival. If it’s in Stage I, the survival rate is over 90 percent. However, the later the stage, the more the survival rate drops. For instance, if someone has Stage IV mouth cancer, the survival rate is about 30 percent.

Oral cancer has six types:

  • Lip
  • Floor of the Mouth
  • Gum
  • Hard Palate
  • Tongue
  • Inner Cheek

If you notice some of the symptoms of mouth cancer, do not ignore them. Instead, book an appointment at Polit & Costello Dentistry right away. Our dentists in Pittston, PA do oral cancer screenings to try to find cancers early so that their patients can survive them and lead long, happy lives.