Oral Cancer Screening

Detecting oral cancer early enough for successful treatment is now easier than ever, and everyone should have regular screenings. The exam usually will include looking for lesions, including areas of leukoplakia (an abnormal white patch of cells) and erythroplakia (an abnormal red patch of cells). Leukoplakia and erythroplakia lesions on the mucous membranes may become cancerous. Higher-risk areas of the mouth that are checked for cancer include:

·                 Floor of the mouth

·                 Front and sides of the tongue

·                 Soft palate

If lesions are seen in the mouth, the following procedures may be used to find abnormal tissue that might develop into oral cancer:

·                 Toluidine blue stain: A procedure in which lesions in the mouth are coated with a blue dye. Areas that stain darker are more likely to be cancer or become cancer.

·                 Fluorescence staining: The patient uses a fluorescent mouth rinse and then the mouth is viewed under a special fluorescent light that highlights irregular tissue.

·                 Exfoliative cytology: A procedure to collect cells from the lip or oral cavity. A piece of cotton, a brush, or a small wooden stick is used to gently scrape cells from the lips, tongue, mouth, or throat. The cells are viewed under a microscope to find out if they are abnormal.

·                 Brush biopsy: The removal of cells using a brush that is designed to collect cells from all layers of a lesion. The cells are viewed under a microscope to find out if they are abnormal.

Be sure to ask your dentist about screening for oral cancer. The exam is painless and integral to a complete program of oral hygiene.

For information about the Ferber Dental Group, dental implants, dentures or periodontal concerns, call 561-439-8888 or visit www.ferberdental.com.