Reasons to Get an Oral Cancer Exam

The Oral Cancer Foundation estimates that oral cancer is responsible for thousands of deaths every year. That’s approximately one death every hour of every single day. While this statistic is sobering, the possibility of death is just one reason you need an oral cancer exam.

Averting Financial Ruin

Cancer treatments are least expensive and least disruptive to your career when they are short. Early detection may allow a patient to simply have the spot removed with only follow-up screenings necessary.

Advanced cases, however, may require chemotherapy, radiation, reconstructive surgery and lengthy hospital stays. Health insurance may not cover 100 percent of all treatments necessary, leaving you to shoulder the excess yourself. To avoid huge bills and a deleterious effect on your career, early detection is crucial.

Avoiding Metastasizing Cancer

Some forms of cancer have a tendency to spread. If oral cancer is found in its earliest stages, the survival rate is high. Oral cancer can spread locally, into the throat or sinuses, or it can spread to other areas of the body, such as into the bone marrow or internal organs.

Once the cancer has progressed to this point, the survival outlook is grim. With more aggressive types of oral cancer, a delay of even a few weeks can impact the patient’s survival outlook.

Minimizing Disfigurement

If you lose a kidney or a lung to cancer, the scars can usually be covered with clothing. Our faces, however, are constantly on display for the world to see.

Having even a moderate growth removed can lead to lost teeth, external scars and general disfigurement. By catching oral cancer when it’s very small, you can avoid disfigurement and long, painful reconstructive surgery.

Discovering Other Health Issues

Even if your exam reveals no signs of cancer, signs of tooth decay can often be detected. Considering the expense of dental work, it’s best to catch decay early.

It’s also possible for tonsil stones, suspicious throat nodules and sinus infections to be discovered during an oral cancer exam. It’s difficult to see everywhere inside your own mouth and throat, making an exam crucial to your overall health and wellness.

Schedule Your Exam Today

Oral cancer, if caught early, doesn’t have to destroy your career, finances or health. If it’s been a year or more since your last exam, schedule an appointment with Implant and Comprehensive Dentistry, with locations in Champions Gate and Winter Haven.

Our team of highly skilled professionals is committed to providing the most exceptional dental care available, and we know that early detection of oral cancer is crucial. Contact us today to schedule your exam.