TVOFS - Boise Office
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Posted on 6/20/2019 by Cole Anderson, DMD, MS |
 For many people, the thought of trips to our dental office is not something they want to deal with. When they do come in for an appointment the goal is to get in and out as fast as they can. They do not want to go through any procedures that keep them in the office longer, but that is often a mistake. People may think that the idea of oral cancer screening will keep them in the office longer, but that is not the right way to think. There are several reasons why you want to have the screening done. The Need for Early Oral Cancer DetectionIf a person hears that they have any type of cancer, thoughts of dying start to go through their head. If they do not think about dying, they start to wonder what the effect the cancer will have on their body. If they suffer from oral cancer, they imagine losing part of all their jaw and their face becoming deformed. While there are people that do die or that struggle with deformities that result from battling oral cancer, this is not what happens to everyone. Oral cancer is treatable, and the survival rate is high. Part of a successful treatment for oral cancer involves early detection. The earlier the cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat and the better the outcome. How Early Detection Happens There are two ways to detect oral cancer early. The first is through noticing the signs of a potential problem through self-screening. That involves learning the signs of oral cancer and doing self-exams on a regular basis. The second way is through our dental offices. Screening for oral cancer can happen during your annual visits. A visual exam is easy to do and does not make much extra time. A good patient history can also help recognize possible risk factors that could create a call for additional testing for oral cancer. The goal is always to catch any cancer at the earliest stages. Oral cancer is a serious health issue, but there are things that you can do about it. It starts with making sure you get an oral cancer screening every time you visit our office. Contact our office to schedule an appointment for this or any other oral health issue you worry about. |
