Oral Cancer

Every hour of every day, a person dies from oral cancer in the United States. It is expected that about 37,000 Americans will be newly diagnosed with oral cancer this year.

As with most other cancers, early detection is the key to improving the patient's chances for survival. If found early, oral cancers have an 80–90% survival rate. Unfortunately, most cases are found as late stage cancers resulting in the high death rate of 50% at five years from diagnosis.

Causes of Oral Cancer.

The two most common causes of oral cancer are the combined use of tobacco and alcohol, and exposure to human papilloma virus (HPV-16), the same virus which is responsible for most cervical cancer cases in women.

Oral Cancer Signs.

As with breast cancer, self-examination and awareness can play an important role in early detection of oral cancer. Contact our office or your doctor immediately if you notice the following symptoms in yourself or a loved one:

a sore in the mouth that does not heal (most common symptom)

pain in the mouth that doesn't go away (also very common)

a persistent lump or thickening in the cheek

a persistent white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsil, or lining of the mouth

a sore throat or a feeling that something is caught in the throat that doesn't go away

difficulty chewing or swallowing

difficulty moving the jaw or tongue

numbness of the tongue or other area of the mouth

swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable

loosening of the teeth or pain around the teeth or jaw

voice changes

a lump or mass in the neck

weight loss

persistent bad breath

ViziLite Plus: Oral Cancer Early Detection Key.

Periodic dental examinations at The Dental Group include an oral cancer screening consisting of a visual examination, followed by an inspection using the ViziLite Plus system. For the ViziLite Plus exam, the patient first rinses with a special formula. We then pass over oral tissue with a special light. Normal healthy tissue will absorb the light and appear dark, but abnormal tissue will appear white. The ViziLite Plus system is effective at identifying tissue changes at their earliest stage. Our combined visual and ViziLite Plus examinations offer you the most comprehensive oral cancer screening available.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please call us at 301-476-4696. A wealth of information about oral cancer can be found on the Oral Cancer Foundation's website at www.oralcancer.org.