At Beam Dental, we take a preventive approach to your oral and overall health. As part of our comprehensive care, our experienced dentist in Broken Arrow offers routine oral cancer screenings designed to detect abnormalities early, when treatment is most successful. Oral cancer may not always show obvious symptoms at first, which is why consistent screenings are essential.
What Is an Oral Cancer Screening?
An oral cancer screening is a quick, painless part of your regular dental checkup. During this exam, our dentist will thoroughly inspect your lips, cheeks, tongue, gums, throat, and the roof and floor of your mouth. We’re looking for any signs that could suggest precancerous or cancerous changes.
If you’ve experienced any of the symptoms below for more than a week without improvement, we urge you to schedule a visit:
- Persistent sore throat or hoarseness
- Sores that do not heal
- Red or white patches in the mouth
- Unexplained bleeding or numbness
- Ear pain without infection
- Difficulty swallowing, speaking, or moving your tongue or jaw
- Sensation of something caught in the throat
- Swelling or lumps in or around the mouth
- Sudden or unexplained weight loss
Understanding Your Risk
Oral cancer can affect anyone, but certain lifestyle choices and medical conditions can increase your risk. Some common risk factors include:
- Tobacco use (cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, etc.)
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Extended sun exposure (especially affecting the lips)
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Poor nutrition
- Family history of cancer
- Being over 40 years of age
Men are more likely to develop oral cancer than women, and tobacco users are six times more likely to develop it than non-users.
Why Early Detection Matters
Oral cancer claims the life of one American every hour. However, when caught early, oral cancers have a survival rate of 80–90%. In the early stages, treatment may be less invasive, more successful, and less likely to impact surrounding tissues or overall health. This is why our team at Beam Dental in Broken Arrow includes screenings as a routine part of your care.
Your Health, Your Future
We’re proud to offer compassionate, thorough care for our patients. If you’ve never had an oral cancer screening or it’s been more than a year since your last one, we encourage you to contact us.
Your peace of mind starts with a simple screening. Schedule your appointment with our Broken Arrow dentist today.