Oral Cancer Screenings

Precautionary Measures Are Essential

At Harris, Reynolds & Cason Family Dental in Little Rock, Oral cancer screenings in Little Rock are a vital part of a dental checkup. Like any condition or disease, symptoms should be caught as early on as possible; that is why routine dental checkups are essential. Here at Harris, Reynolds & Cason Family Dentistry, we will gently and carefully conduct your oral cancer screening to ensure your mouth is healthy.

Oral Cancer Screening in Little Rock

Oral cancer simply means any cancer within the oral cavity. Oral cancer screenings in Little Rock are quick and easy. Dr. Harris or Dr. Reynolds will visually and physically examine your mouth to check for any signs of oral cancer. The screening will be of your entire oral cavity and correlating tissues, such as your throat, sinuses, pharynx, and larynx.

What To Expect At Your Oral Cancer Screening

You should remember to remove any dental devices before the appointment so the doctor can do the examination thoroughly. Dr. Harris or Dr. Reynolds will visually examine your oral cavity, looking for asymmetries, bumps, ulcerations, discolorations, swellings, or other abnormalities.

Dr. Harris and Dr. Reynolds will also need to examine your oral cavity physically to feel for any lumps or abnormalities. The doctor will observe your jaw, cheeks, face, throat, tongue, neck, and nose as a part of the screening. They will likely use several instruments in the examination as well to help them be thorough.

After Your Oral Cancer Screening

Your oral cancer screening in Little Rock is precautionary. Only if an abnormality is found will the doctor need to run diagnostics. If the doctor does find an abnormality, don’t immediately panic, abnormalities need to be tested and not always cancerous.

In the likely scenario that no abnormalities are found, it is vital that you continue regular checkups to ensure the doctor can catch anything concerning in its earliest stages if it does come up in the future. It is even more crucial that you have regular cancer screenings in Little Rock if you are at higher risk for it.

According to the American Cancer Society, the top risk factors for oral cancer include:

Tobacco use
Alcohol use
Unprotected exposure to the sun
An HPV diagnosis
Gender (You are 2x more likely to get oral cancer if you are male)
Age (55 and older)

Call Us Today To Schedule

Preventative measures are the best way to ensure you are healthy. This includes regular screenings to catch early symptoms of anything concerning. Your health is our top priority! Call us today to schedule an appointment.