Oral Cancer Screening
At Dr. Coopersmith, Dr. Bercovici & Associates Dental Centre, our Montreal dentists perform oral cancer screenings to look for any signs of oral cancer.
What is an Oral Cancer Screening?
At Dr. Coopersmith, Dr. Bercovici & Associates Dental Centre, our dentists perform oral cancer screenings at your routine exams to check for signs of oral cancer or pre-cancerous lesions in your mouth.
Oral cancer is a common - but serious - form of cancer. If detected early, the prognosis and outcome can significantly improve, and in many cases can be cured. However, if left untreated this condition can be fatal.
With a focus on preventive dental care, we aim to detect any disease or condition early, develop a treatment plan and keep patients educated and informed regarding their oral health.
Oral Cancer Screening Procedure
At both your first appointment with Dr. Coopersmith, Dr. Bercovici & Associates Dental Centre and during subsequent appointments, your dentist will perform an oral cancer screening.
During this exam, your mouth, throat, head and neck are inspected for any indications of cancerous or pre-cancerous lesions.
For this task, we use a high-intensity light diffraction scope to detect abnormalities in the mouth, before they become cancerous.
Your dentist will examine your entire mouth and throat with a VELSCOPE oral cancer screening device during each checkup appointment for any signs of the disease.
If detected early, the dentist may be able to cure this condition.
Symptoms of Oral Cancer
Oral cancer does not discriminate based on age - it can afflict young adults, as well as those over 50. It can affect the gums, lips, tongue, lining of the cheeks, and roof and floor of the mouth. Here are signs and symptoms you should watch out for:
- A growth or lump on the interior of your mouth
- Pain in your mouth or ears
- Difficulty or pain when swallowing
- A reddish or white patch on the interior of your mouth
- Loose teeth
If your dentist discovers signs of oral cancer during a checkup appointment, a custom treatment plan can be developed based on your specific case.
