Oral Cancer Screenings

Oral cancer may not get as much press as some other cancers but that doesn’t mean it isn’t as serious. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, “Close to 53,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or oropharyngeal cancer this year. It will cause over 9,750 deaths, killing roughly 1 person per hour, 24 hours per day. Of those 53,000 newly diagnosed individuals, only slightly more than half will be alive in 5 years.” Worst of all, oral cancer rarely presents with noticeable symptoms. When there are symptoms like ear pain or a toothache, they can be easily confused for other issues.

Fortunately, when caught early, oral cancer can be relatively easy to treat. That’s why Dr. Snyder includes an oral cancer screening during every comprehensive exam and why we keep our eyes open for symptoms during every visit. Screenings may be visual, manual, and may include the use of Oral ID, a special fluorescent light to help detect cancer in its earliest stages.