Oral Cancer Screening
At Advanced Cosmetic & General Dentistry of DC, our dentists perform an annual oral cancer screening in combination with your conventional dental exam. It is the one step in the exam process that can, literally, be a lifesaver.
In the United States, one person dies from oral cancer every hour, and virtually everyone is at risk. In fact, 25% of oral cancer cases occur in people who don’t smoke and have no other lifestyle risk factors. Luckily, oral cancer is one of the most curable diseases when it’s caught early. And that’s why we include this service for our patients.
An annual oral cancer exam is quick and painless. You simply rinse with a cleansing solution, and then we examine your mouth using a specially designed light that can detect pre-malignant lesions and oral cancer. A few minutes once a year can go a long way towards helping ensure a long and healthy life.
Are you at risk for oral cancer?
- Highest risk: Patients 40 and older with lifestyle risk factors like tobacco and/or alcohol use or exposure to human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Increased risk: Patients 40 and older without lifestyle risk factors
- Moderate risk: Patients 18 -39 without lifestyle risk factors
If you have any questions about oral cancer or wish to schedule an appointment, please contact us at our Washington, DC dental office. We’re always here to help.