A visit to the dentist is about more than routine dental care. In fact, dentists, hygienists, and oral surgeons can also help you detect and potentially treat oral cancers, which can be deadly if they’re not addressed. That’s why many in the dental industry, including Oral Surgery Associates Of Alaska LLC, are pushing for more comprehensive exams for patients in Anchorage and all over the country. Much like many other types of cancers, early detection is the key to finding an effective treatment.

An Oral Surgeon’s Guide to Cancer

1. What Happens During an Oral Cancer Screening?

The visual exam involves looking for any abnormalities like bumps, discolorations, or ulcers within the oral cavity. A physical exam can also occur, during which your doctor will manually check your face and neck for any swelling or bumps. In the event issues are discovered, you may be asked to undergo more frequent screenings. When symptoms are more pressing your dentist might advise you to submit to further testing, such as blood testing or tissue biopsies.

2. What Are Some Risk Factors?

Use of tobacco and alcohol are both known risk factors for oral cancers. Chewing tobacco is particularly problematic, as people who chew tend to hold the tobacco under their tongues or against their lips for an extended period, thereby increasing exposure. Men and people who are older also tend to have a higher risk.  

3. What Kind of Treatments Are Available?

When it comes to oral pathology or diseases of the mouth, an oral surgeon is often a key component of treatment. For those with stage 1 or 2 cancers, which can appear on the lips or elsewhere in the oral cavity, surgery and some combination of chemo or radiation therapy is usually recommended. An oral surgeon would remove cancerous tissues while the chemoradiation would do away with any cancer cells left behind.

In terms of more advanced cancers, surgery will also entail taking biopsies of nearby lymph nodes to determine whether the disease has spread. With late-stage oropharyngeal cancers, meaning those affecting the tongue and tonsils, chemoradiation is often utilized. Cetuximab may also be provided, which is a man-made immunity-boosting protein that is delivered to the body intravenously.

Proper detection of oral cancer is the first step to finding the most effective treatment. In Anchorage, patients rely on Oral Surgery Associates Of Alaska LLC to address a wide range of conditions and illnesses. If you’d like to schedule an appointment with an oral surgeon today, call (907) 561-1430. Or, visit the website to see the complete list of procedures currently available.