Oral cancer is twice as common in men as women and highly dangerous to your health if discovered too late. You can die from oral cancer and this is why our team at Franklin Dental takes every precaution to ensure this health problem does not affect you.
We provide oral cancer screening for your safety. We are trained to see and feel precursor tissue changes or the cancer itself, in its early stages. Coming to the dentist means more than a cavity filling or rinse, it is crucial to ensure your optimum health.
Your dentist is often the first to discover oral cancer and we want you to be aware of some of its symptoms.
● A sore in your mouth or on your lip that does not heal ● Difficulty chewing, swallowing and moving your jaws or tongue ● Lump on your lip, throat or mouth ● Thick feeling in your cheek
Take safety measures to prevent oral cancer and note the following can be contributors to this type of disease.
● Prolonged exposure to the sun ● Low diet of fruits and vegetables ● Tobacco and excess alcohol use ● HPV infection ● Age increase (usually people over 40 years old)
We want you to take a few minutes out of your day to come see us at Franklin Dental where we can check you for oral cancer during our screening process. Why not ease your mind by making dentist appointment today?
First, we perform an extraoral exam, inspecting your neck, face and head for any asymmetry or skin changes such as growths, crusts, fissuring or colour change. We also check to see if your lymph nodes have enlarged.
Next, we complete a perioral and intraoral soft tissue test. In this exam, we proceed with a seven-step assessment including examining your lips, floor of your mouth, hard/soft palates and tongue.
After the exam, if we notice signs of precancerous or cancer lesions, then we schedule a follow up appointment a few weeks later. When you come back in to see us, we check to see if what we found in your previous booking has grown or changed. We may take a biopsy if necessary, to remove sample cells for testing in the lab. This test will determine whether cancer cells are present. The biopsy can be done by us or we may refer you to a doctor that specializes in this type of treatment.
Help recognize symptoms early by getting an oral cancer screening done yearly beginning around 18 years old. Here are some prevention methods for oral cancer.
PreventativeMeasures
● Brush and floss on a regular basis
● Conduct a self-exam at least once every month
● Exercise on a continuing basis
● See us regularly
How Do I Conduct A Self-Exam?
Grab a mirror to check the back and sides of your tongue for bumps, tenderness, lumps or white, grey and red patches.
Our central location on Franklin Avenue in Fort McMurray is pleased to offer our services to several zones nearby so you can get your oral cancer screening whether you live on Riedel Street or Gordon Avenue. We are close to other areas in Fort McMurray as well so be sure to take a look at the map and come in for your appointment. Caring for your teeth is important no matter what area you live in.
Open on Saturday and during the week nights, we can book you in for a dental appointment when most offices will be closed. Our friendly staff will provide you with a personalized dental experience, taking care of your tooth and gum needs. Our certified professionals will accommodate sedation requirements during your procedure to help get rid of those nerves.
At Franklin Dental, there is no need to worry once your appointment is complete because we follow the Alberta Dental Fee Guide so your dental experience can be an affordable venture.
Currently, we are taking on new patients and want you to be the next one. Call us to book your appointment with one of our dental personnel. When visiting Franklin Dental for the first time, you can expect a comprehensive oral exam and x-rays.
We will walk through our assessment of your teeth and gums, then discuss future treatments that are individually suited to you. You will leave Franklin Dental with a confident, proud smile.