Oral cancer screening is a quick, painless part of your routine exam at Advanced Cosmetic and Family Dentistry of Olney. Dr. Johnson checks for early signs of abnormal tissue every time you come in, because catching something early is always better than waiting until it becomes a larger problem.
Oral cancer screening is included as part of every comprehensive dental exam at our practice, so there’s no need to schedule a separate appointment. During the screening, Dr. Archana M. Johnson examines the lips, tongue, gums, the floor and roof of the mouth, the throat, and the surrounding tissues for any unusual changes.
The screening takes only a few minutes and is performed during your routine exam. Patients from Olney, Sandy Spring, Brookeville, Ashton, and throughout Montgomery County benefit from this important preventive service as part of their regular dental care.
To learn more about what happens during a comprehensive visit, visit our page on Dental Exams.
Oral cancer can develop anywhere in the mouth or on the lips, and it does not always appear obvious in its earliest stages. During your screening, Dr. Johnson looks for red, white, or mixed red-and-white patches, sores that have not healed, thickened or rough tissue, and other changes that may require closer evaluation.
Not every finding is cause for concern. Some areas may simply be the result of minor irritation or a recent bite injury. The goal of the screening is to carefully evaluate your oral tissues so that anything unusual can be identified early and monitored when necessary.
If an area requires additional attention, Dr. Johnson will explain her findings and discuss the appropriate next steps. That may involve monitoring the area at a follow-up visit or referring you to an oral surgeon or specialist for further evaluation. If needed, we can help coordinate your care.
Everyone can benefit from an oral cancer screening as part of their routine dental visits. While certain factors, including tobacco use, heavy alcohol use, HPV infection, prolonged sun exposure to the lips, and a personal or family history of oral or throat cancer, can increase the risk, oral cancer can also occur in people without these risk factors.
Because early-stage oral cancer often causes little or no discomfort, routine screenings are an important part of preventive care. Many changes are difficult to see on your own, making regular professional evaluations especially valuable.
For most patients, an oral cancer screening is performed during the same visit as a routine dental cleaning and dental exam, typically every six months. If you’ve noticed a sore or unusual area that hasn’t healed after two weeks, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment sooner.
Children and teenagers may also receive an age-appropriate oral cancer screening as part of their comprehensive dental exam.
A routine visit to Advanced Cosmetic and Family Dentistry of Olney typically includes a professional cleaning, a comprehensive dental exam, digital X-rays when appropriate, and an oral cancer screening. Our digital dental X-rays provide detailed images of your teeth and supporting bone while using significantly less radiation than traditional film.
The oral cancer screening is performed during your dental exam and requires no special preparation. Using a visual examination and gentle palpation, Dr. Johnson evaluates the soft tissues of your mouth, throat, and neck for any unusual changes. The screening is quick, comfortable, and completed as part of your routine visit.
Because we provide preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry in one location, Dr. Johnson evaluates your oral health as a whole. If she identifies concerns that may require additional care, such as signs of periodontal disease, she can discuss your treatment options during the same appointment.
Early detection plays a critical role in the successful treatment of oral cancer. Because oral cancer often develops without obvious symptoms or pain in its earliest stages, routine screenings help identify changes that might otherwise go unnoticed.
By including an oral cancer screening as part of every comprehensive dental exam, we can monitor your oral health consistently and evaluate any changes over time. This proactive approach helps ensure that areas of concern are identified and addressed as early as possible.
At Advanced Cosmetic and Family Dentistry of Olney, oral cancer screenings are one part of our comprehensive approach to preventive care. Along with preventive, restorative, cosmetic, implant, orthodontic, and emergency dentistry, we provide coordinated care for patients of all ages. If you’re looking for a trusted family dentistry practice, we’re here to help you protect your oral health at every stage of life.
