Advance Family Dental Care

Northbrook Oral Cancer Screenings

Look no further than Advance Family Dental Care for oral cancer screenings in Northbrook, IL. Nearly 42,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral and throat cancer every year. The key to survival is early detection. Oral cancer can also be known as; mouth cancer, throat cancer, tonsil cancer, and tongue cancer. It can affect the lips, gums, tongue, the roof of your mouth, floor of your mouth, throat, tonsils, etc.

Getting Screened - VELscope Technology

When making an appointment or when you arrive at your dental office in Northbrook let them know you would like to be screened. You will be asked about you and your family’s health history. The exam will be of the oral cavity, head, and neck. The exam itself typically takes less than five minutes. Our office uses the award winning VELscope Vx technology which allows our dentist to have an enhanced view of lesions not able to be seen with the naked eye. During the screening, your doctor will go over signs and symptoms they are looking for and how you can look for them as well.

Velscope Oral Cancer Lesion

If your dentist believes there is suspicion of cancer they will take a small biopsy and contact you with their findings in typically a week. If the biopsy is to come back positive surgery is typically the next step. Regular dental exams, every six months, will help aid in early detection.

Signs & Symptoms:

Red or white lesions on mouth or lip

Difficulty swallowing or chewing

Sore, lump or pain that doesn’t go away

Loose teeth – seems to be for no reason

Difficulty moving your tongue or jaw

Swelling and/or numbness in the mouth

Risk Factors:

Tobacco

Alcohol

Combined use of Tobacco & Alcohol

HPV 16 Positive

Poor Diet

GET THE WORD OUT!

Public awareness is one of the best ways to detect any type of cancer early. We are now custom to mammograms, pap tests and colonoscopies all because it has become known to the public how important screening and early detection is.

While over the age of 50 we typically saw oral cancer, there have been increasing numbers in the recent years of people in their 20’s and 30’s. It is not known the exact cause of this but studies are starting to lean towards HPV 16 as the link in young adults and oral cancer. This means all ages should be having exams each time they visit the dentist. Make your screenings part of your six-month dental check-up every time with your Northbrook, IL dentist, Dr. Zomorrodi. You will be happy you did!

Ready for your Screening?

Book Your Appointment Today