You may not think of your dentist as a researcher, but when it comes to your oral health, I take on this role.
In every dental check with me, you will notice that I use a finger with gloves to feel the sides, the roof and the lower part of your mouth. I will also lift your tongue to look under it, and cross your throat. What is going on?
I am looking for signs of oral cancers. These cancers are abnormal cells in any part of your mouth or lips. Oral cancers are relatively unusual, but because they are not easy to detect, they may not be found up to a later stage when they can become very serious. That is why every dentist controls your mouth for pieces, hits and red or white patches. The base, sides and backs of your tongue are common locations for oral cancer, so it gets a thorough inspection.
My job as a dentist is to recognize that something may not be normal and then conduct more tests or send you to a spokesman or a doctor and neck. When I check for oral cancers, I can do a visual inspection as far as I can see when my patient says, “ahhhh”. If I find wounds in your mouth, I will ask how long it was there because they should resolve in two weeks. If you report new pain or numbness in the mouth or difficulty swallowing or changes in your voice, I will probably refer you to further testing. When I find red and white patches in your mouth, I can recognize them as non -cancerous infections, or I can biopsy or refer you to further testing.
While anyone can be vulnerable to oral cancers, they were more common among older men of any ethnicity, especially those who smoke or drink too much alcohol. But now I see oral cancers in younger men and women, and we dentists believe that it is due to HPV – the human papillary. Dentists have joined the choir that urges young teenagers to be vaccinated against HPV.
We also see lip cancers. I remind my patients to use a lip balm with sunscreen as well as avoid exposure while using tanning beds. About 10 percent of oral cancers cannot be detected for a specific cause.
When an oral cancer is recognized, treatment is surgery, radiation or chemotherapy or a combination. I will work with you and your doctor before treatment to make sure you have as healthy mouth as possible to tolerate treatment better and cure faster. For example, an infection should be resolved before treatment, but because I coordinate cases of cases with the Kaiser Permanente medical providers, we can work as a team to ensure that we take care of all aspects of your treatment.
Preventive care includes the usual preventive steps for good oral health: brushing, yarn, fluoride, healthy eating, smoking or tobacco use, HPV prevention and vaccination and alcohol only with moderation. Make sure you have maintained your normal dental checks. Eat more fruits and rich vegetables that help create and maintain a healthier mouth. In addition, stand in front of a mirror and look into your mouth. Create a basic line for normal for your mouth and then, over time, be alert for any changes.
Unfortunately, we cannot completely eliminate the risk of oral cancers. However, your preventive actions and my dental work can either reassure you that we will catch oral cancers early or that your mouth is healthy.
Kregg Delange DDS is a Kaiser Permanente dentist in Eugene. Read more about Kaiser Permanente on KP.org/lane
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