General Dentistry

Oral Cancer Screenings

Oral cancer can be devastating to your oral and overall general physical health. However, if oral cancer is caught in its early stages, you can get treatment that may save your life. Getting regular oral cancer screenings can help you get early treatment. At your dentist in Lompoc, CA, we provide oral cancer screenings for our patients.

Your dentist should check for oral cancer when you come in for general dentistry services, like your regular checkup and tooth cleaning. However, you should also come in for a screening if you notice signs of oral cancer.

We recommend that patients perform a self-examination on a monthly basis to search for signs of oral cancer. Patients who notice abnormalities in their mouth during these self-examinations should seek help from their dental professional at Ocean Dental.

There are many signs of oral cancer, including:

  • White, red or speckled patches inside your mouth
  • Bumps and rough spots on your lips, gums and other parts of your mouth
  • Bleeding in the mouth
  • Feeling that something is caught in the back of your throat, or throat soreness
  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing
  • Dramatic, unexplained or unexpected weight loss
  • Difficulty talking
  • Ear pain
  • Changes in the way your teeth align

To screen your mouth for oral cancer, your dentist will use tools like a mirror and tongue depressor to look for signs that could indicate you have oral cancer. If your dentist at Ocean Dental detects potential oral cancer, then they may use more tools to examine the area in question.