Welcome to Our Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

If you have been a patient of ours for years, you know what to do when you see us pick up the gauze. You stick out your tongue, because we are about to check it for oral cancer. I laugh that I don't even have to say it now, you see the guaze and out goes the tongue. Every 6 months, we check your mouth and tongue for any suspicious lesions. As with all cancers, early detection results in the best outcomes. That's why that 1 minute check is probably the most important part of your routine care. Oral cancer is actually the sixth most common type of cancer and unfortunately can spread faster than most other types.

If we see an area of mild to moderate concern, we will take a brush biopsy. This is very easy and painless. We have a little brush that looks sort of like a pipe cleaner. We rub it on the area and then wipe it on a slide. This is sent off to a laboratory and checked for abnormal cells. From there we know if the area is healthy or if it needs further testing.

Oral Cancer Screenings are one more way that we make sure we are taking care of you, not just your teeth.

Labels: cancer, dental exam, oral cancer, preventative care