Who Needs Oral Cancer Screenings?

Middle-aged man wearing a gray shirt crosses his arms and smiles after an oral cancer screening

Just hearing the word “cancer” may make you want to run away, but hear us out for a bit. We’re here to talk about oral cancer screenings, which are a way to screen for oral cancer while it’s still in its early stages—and this means increasing your chances of beating the disease if you have it. The great thing is these screenings are quick and painless. Here’s the scoop on who needs oral cancer screenings and when:

Standard Checks

It’s standard practice when you go to the dentist for a routine check-up that the team will also do a visual oral cancer screening. This means that it’s common for adults to get a screening at least twice a year, or every six months. The Oral Cancer Foundation recommends that people should be screened for oral cancer every year starting from when they’re 18 years old.

Risk Factors

There are certain factors that can increase your risk of getting oral cancer, including:

  • Tobacco use
  • Heavy alcohol use
  • HPV positive
  • Previous cancer diagnosis
  • Poor oral hygiene
  • Poor nutrition

Oral Cancer Screening in Indian Trail, NC

If any of these, or a combination of these, factors apply to you, speak to our expert team at Pleasant Plains Dental as soon as possible. We offer oral cancer screenings through visual checks as well as our advanced OralID® tool, which uses fluorescence technology to detect signs of oral cancer. Our team would be happy to give you more information about oral cancer risk factors or detection. Contact us today with additional questions or to schedule your next checkup and oral cancer screening!

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