Oral Cancer Screenings in Nampa, ID

Early Detection & Treatment

When you damage a tooth, you want a restoration that will make you feel great about your smile again. That’s why, at Premier Dental Care, we offer high-quality dental crowns that blend seamlessly into your smile, filling any gaps and reinvigorating your appearance.

For years, dentists have been designing and placing crowns to restore, protect, and reinforce their patients’ teeth. These tried-and-true methods of tooth replacement are used for many treatments and are hardly noticeable.

Explore our guide below to discover how dental crowns help our patients feel confident about their smiles again.

The Signs of Oral Cancer

Although it takes a professional to diagnose oral cancer definitively, it’s still crucial to watch out for the signs during your daily oral health routine.

The symptoms of oral cancer include:

Inflammation, rough spots, or sores on the lips, gums, or other mouth tissues
White, red, or speckled velvety patches in the mouth
Unexplained oral bleeding, pain, or numbness in the mouth
Persistent lower facial sores
Sore or blocked throat and changes to the voice
Difficulty moving the mouth, tongue, or jaw to speak and eat
Ear pain
Change in bite alignment
Dramatic, sudden weight loss

The Oral Cancer Screening Process

An oral cancer screening is a dental exam that allows a professional to look for signs of cancer or premalignant lesions in your mouth. The five-minute process is non-invasive and painless, giving our dentists a detailed view of all areas of your mouth.

Patients generally should schedule a dental exam and checkup every six months. Along with helping you maintain good oral health, your routine visits give our dentists a chance to perform your oral cancer screening at least twice a year for preventative measures.

The Importance of Early Detection

We provide such frequent oral cancer screenings because early detection leads to more successful treatments. The sooner we diagnose any signs of oral cancer, the better the results of your treatment will be.

The benefits of receiving oral cancer screenings are:

It’s an easy process — Dr. Bingham will check for signs of cancer during every routine oral health checkup.
It’s a free exam — We perform this at the same time as your general examination, so there’s no additional cost.
It’s a life-saving procedure — The survival rate for oral cancer increases the sooner you receive a diagnosis and treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes oral cancer?

A few of the main high-risk factors for oral cancer include:

Tobacco usage
Heavy alcohol consumption
HPV carrier
A previous oral cancer diagnosis
Extended sun exposure

It’s important to note that patients without these factors can still develop oral cancer. If you’re worried about your risk of oral cancer, you should schedule an appointment at our Nampa, ID office for an exam.

Can I self-screen for oral cancer?

Yes, and you should! When checking yourself for oral cancer, look and feel around the gums, tongue, interior cheeks, lips, and edges of your mouth. You want to look out for any abnormalities like lumps, sores, or spots. Performing a self-check at least once a month can increase the chances of early detection if oral cancer does develop.

Is oral cancer deadly?

Yes, oral cancer can be deadly. Unfortunately, oral cancer is often detected too late to be treated effectively, which is why it’s so important to self-check and inform your dentist about your desire to be examined as well. At Premier Dental Care, we’ll perform routine inspections each time you come into the office, and we recommend scheduling regular biannual appointments.

Does oral cancer spread quickly?

Most oral cancers do have a tendency to spread quickly to other parts of the body once they’ve become progressed. Early detection can help immensely with the effective treatment of oral cancers, which is why we recommend coming in for regular checkups. At our office, we’ll always inspect your mouth for signs of oral cancer to attempt to diagnose it before it can spread.

Ask Dr. Bingham About Oral Cancer Screenings

You can feel confident that you’re protected against oral cancer when you visit Premier Dental Care in Nampa, ID. We work hard to give our patients accurate, swift diagnoses if we find any signs during your oral cancer screening. That’s because detection of cancer during its earliest stages can increase the survivability of the condition. Learn more about your routine oral cancer screenings when you schedule your consultation with Dr. Bingham.