April is Oral Cancer Awareness month. Your dentist is crucial in early detection of the disease. Oral cancer is not as common as some other forms of cancer, but it is still a cause for concern. It is estimated that 42,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year. Tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption are two of the major risk factors for oral cancer. The human papilloma virus has also been shown to increase the risk of oral cancer.
The five-year survival rate for oral cancer patients is 50 percent. If the cancer is detected before it metastasizes, or spreads, to other parts of the body, then the cure rate is near 90 percent. A sore in the mouth is usually the first symptom of oral cancer.
This sore typically develops on the tongue or the lips, but it can develop anywhere in the mouth. It may also bleed easily. It is important to note that mouth sores are fairly common, and they do not always indicate oral cancer. However, if this sore does not go away within two weeks, then it is a cause for concern.
Patches in the mouth, ear pain, bite changes, voice changes and numbness in the mouth are some of the other symptoms that may be an indication of oral cancer. Dentists are qualified to check for oral cancer. In fact, dentists are often the first ones to catch oral cancer. That is why it is important to see a general dentist in Pennington, New Jersey for an examination.
If you have been trying to find a dentist in Pennington then you should contact Family Spa And Dentistry. Dr. Donna Vagnozzi-Bucci. During your examination in the month of Apil, you will get free oral cancer screening using the VELscope Vx which is a savings of $25. The VELscope Vx is the most powerful tool available for assisting in the discovery of oral abnormalities. The VELscope’s distinctive blue-spectrum light causes the soft tissues of the mouth to naturally fluoresce. Healthy tissues fluoresce in distinctive patterns — patterns that are visibly disrupted by trauma or disease. Using the VELscope, a wide variety of oral abnormalities can be discovered — often before they’re visible to the unassisted eye. If you have been trying to find a dentist in Pennington then you should contact Family Spa And Dentistry and make an appointment with Dr. Donna Vagnozzi-Bucci for a routine dental exam and cleaning.
