Oral Cancer Screenings (VELscope®️) in Westport, CT

Like most cancers, early detection is key with oral cancer. Identifying oral cancer in its earliest stage offers the most promising opportunity for beating it. When you visit dentist near you, for a regular examination, your dentist will be sure to check for signs of oral cancer.

Your dentist may decide that further tests and screenings are necessary, and this will be discussed with you during your visit. While it’s important to know that screening and exam does not reduce your risk of oral cancer, you can decide with the help of your dentist in Westpost advice whether or not it’s right for you based on your personal risk factors.

Why Should I Have an Oral Cancer Screening?

Our patients with a higher risk factor than the average adult could potentially benefit from an oral cancer screening because, as previously mentioned, early detection is important to treating oral cancer with the best possible outcome.

These risk factors include, but may not be limited to, the following:

• A family history of oral cancer
• A previous diagnosis of cancer and/or oral cancer
• Smoking cigarettes, cigars, and pipes, as well as other tobacco use such as snuff and chewing tobacco
• Alcohol abuse or heavy use
• Substantial sun exposure

Diagnosing oral cancer in its earliest stages makes cancerous lesions much easier to be removed, and it’s less likely that it has spread to other areas.

About the Oral Cancer Screening

Your dentist will be checking the inside of your mouth for sores or red and white patches that can be seen by the naked eye. Your dentist will also wear sterile gloves and feel around the mouth for any lumps and bumps and other abnormalities.

For the most thorough check, our patients who wear dentures or partials will be asked to take them out so the gums and tissues beneath can be inspected as well.

Should any signs of cancer or lesions and sores of a potentially precancerous nature be detected, your dentist will arrange for a biopsy to test the cells in the mouth. Follow-up appointments will be made to keep a close eye on the lesions. Give us a call today.