A 5-Minute Oral Cancer Screening Could Save Your Life [Video Q&A]

Many patients may shy away from different types of cancer screenings and exams out of fear of getting a positive result. That’s the wrong attitude to have. The bottom line is simple and optimistic: finding oral cancer before it has spread is associated with better outcomes and higher survival rates. The oral cancer screening is a simple, often noninvasive, and highly accessible way to detect growths early.

Dr. Keider has been practicing dentistry for over 30 years. He sees himself as a member of your team and wants to support optimal oral health by providing routine screenings and biopsies to enable early detection and treatment for his patients.

Why Oral Cancer Screenings Are Critical

Oral cancer screenings look for signs of mouth cancer, jaw cancer, and tongue cancer. These cancers often develop in spots that are easy to overlook during everyday brushing and flossing. For instance, it can be hard to get a good look at the back of the tongue or the floor of the mouth. Moreover, they don’t always cause pain or anything noticeable in their earliest stages. That’s what makes routine screenings so valuable. They give Dr. Keider the chance to spot changes in the tissue well before you’d notice any symptoms on your own.

Dr. Keider makes a point of conducting thorough oral cancer screenings as part of his routine care for each patient he sees. He makes it a priority during regular exams, first appointments, and at the onset of the denture process.

What To Expect During an Oral Cancer Screening

Dr. Keider will do a very thorough cancer screening throughout the mouth. He might ask about relevant health history and risk factors, including:

• Tobacco use
• Prior history-related risks
• HPV-related risk
• Sun exposure on the lips

This conversation helps Dr. Keider understand your overall risk, as some patients are at higher risk of developing oral cancer than others.

Next, he performs a visual inspection of the lips, cheeks, gums, tongue, and the roof and floor of the mouth. Our office is equipped with specialized lenses, including a light specifically designed to illuminate any concerning tissues in the mouth. This can help detect changes in the oral cavity and lips that might otherwise be invisible to the naked eye.

With a gloved hand, Dr. Keider will feel the tissues in and around the mouth, jaw, face, and neck for lumps, swelling, or other abnormalities. He’ll also check for changes such as persistent sores, red or white patches, thickened areas, unexplained bleeding, or unusual tenderness. If he identifies any areas of concern, Dr. Keider can perform a cancer biopsy and help you take the appropriate next steps.

Not every unusual spot turns out to be cancer. A spot could be a harmless irritation that heals on its own. However, a biopsy is the most reliable way to know for certain. During the procedure, Dr. Keider removes a small tissue sample and sends it to the lab for analysis.

In many cases, he has seen patients have positive results with precancer or cancer in the earliest stages. While we always hope for a negative result for each of our patients, at the end of the day, a positive result early is much better than detecting cancer in the later stages. That’s why screenings at routine dental visits are so valuable.

Take the Next Step To Achieve Optimal Oral Health

It’s always best to be proactive about your health and well-being. An oral cancer screening is a simple yet effective way to detect oral cancers early. Dr. Keider has specialized tools right in his office that he can use to perform comprehensive oral cancer exams. If he sees any concerning areas, he will perform a biopsy for review. He’ll also help you understand the next steps and be sure you’re set with the appropriate providers.

Dr. Keider is a Winston-Salem dentist who wants to help set you on the path to optimal oral health. Oral cancer screenings are one way he promotes that for each of his patients. Learn more at an affordable consultation.