The whole idea behind going for an oral cancer screening in Fort Lauderdale is to diagnose the threatening condition in its early stages; before it poses a significant risk. It is for this reason that the dentist in Fort Lauderdale recommends screenings once every one to two years and perhaps even more frequently for smokers, who are at a much greater risk. What you shouldn't do is avoid this examination out of a fear for what the dentist may find. Most of the time, abnormalities identified during an oral cancer screening in Fort Lauderdale are harmless or benign. Should anything suspicious be spotted, the dentist will biopsy the lump, lesion or discoloration and sends the tissue off to the lab for testing. You will be notified of the results.
According to the American Cancer Society, men face twice the risk of developing oral cancer as women, and men who are over age 50 face the greatest risk. It's estimated that over 35,000 people in the U.S. received a diagnosis of oral cancer in 2008.
As part of your routine dental exam, your dentist will conduct an oral cancer screening exam. More specifically, your dentist will feel for any lumps or irregular tissue changes in your neck, head, face, and oral cavity. When examining your mouth, your dentist will look for any sores or discolored tissue as well as check for any signs and symptoms mentioned above.