Oral Cancer Screenings in Weymouth, MA
Oral cancer can affect anyone. There are risk factors that can increase a person’s likelihood of getting oral cancer, but there are no fixed rules. Patients should seek oral cancer screenings in Weymouth, MA. At Weymouth Dental Associates in Weymouth, MA, we can provide these screenings.
There’s nothing to worry about during an oral cancer screening. Our dentists at Weymouth Dental Associates have plenty of experience and they know how to effectively screen for oral cancer while keeping patients comfortable.
Risk Factors for Oral Cancer
There are several risk factors for oral cancer. Smoking is at the forefront of these risk factors. Your risk isn’t just dependent on whether or not you smoke. It will depend on how much you smoke and how long you’ve been smoking. If you want to lower your risk of getting oral cancer, it’s always a good idea to quit smoking.
Patients who drink alcohol are at an increased risk of getting oral cancer. Additionally, certain types of infections can predispose to oral cancer. Finally, patients who have a personal or family history of oral cancer need to be vigilant as they are more likely to get it.
Screening for Oral Cancer
At Weymouth Dental Associates, we will start screening by asking you a few questions. We will then move to examine your oral cavity. The first step is to look for any irregularities. These can include ulcers, masses, and areas of discoloration. We will need to softly palpate your oral cavity, lymph nodes, and neck to check for masses that we can’t see.
If an abnormality is detected, we might need to take a biopsy and send it for analysis. We will not know the diagnosis until we get the results back. There’s no reason to panic as most lesions are benign. If a patient has a precancerous or cancerous lesion, we will explain what their options are and give our recommendation on the next best course of action. Give us a call if you have any questions!