Since April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month we wanted to remind you to call us at [phone] to request your professional teeth cleanings and oral exams. These preventive dental appointments will build on your home hygiene habits. And, when it comes to overcoming something like cancer, having a professional eye looking you over on a regular basis is always a sound idea. Please keep reading to hear more about it, and then make arrangements to visit our Kennewick, WA dentist’s office.

Oral Cancer: Do You Know What To Look For?

Not everyone is prepared to self-diagnose, but as a rule, if anything seems amiss, you will want to let us know ASAP. Oral cancer can start out as a tiny sore or small spot inside the mouth. It can first appear on your inner cheeks, tongue, lips, gums as well as the soft and hard palate.

Modern Oral Cancer Screening With ViziLite

When you come in for your six month checkups, we can do a lot of good for your smile and your oral health in general. For example, getting extra preventive treatments like fluoride applications and dental sealants can help you keep tooth decay at bay. And if you are open to it, we can also get to the root cause of embarrassing issues such as chronic bad breath.

Beyond that, when you have us do an oral cancer screening, it might just save your life in that it will help detect the presence of cancerous and precancerous changes in the mouth. To make sure you are always safe, we now use a special laser technology called ViziLite to look for those early warning signs of oral cancer.

So, is every six months enough? Well, if you have a higher risk for developing oral cancer, you will want to come in more frequently. Who falls into this category? Patients at the highest risk are those who use tobacco products or drink alcohol. There are other good reasons for stepping away from those activities, but there is no denying the strong correlation between these things and cancer.

Those who have previously had oral cancer in their family should also be on guard. Sunburns and sun-poisoning can also be a factor. And if you are beyond a certain age (45 years old) your chances of getting cancer are more pronounced.

Call Today For Cancer Prevention

We hope you have been inspired to come to a dentist you can trust to keep your mouth healthy and your smile looking great at every stage of life. To schedule an appointment at Grandridge Dental, call our Kennewick, WA office today at 509-380-9046 or fill out our convenient online form.

Because we know that no one wants any surprises when it’s time to pay for your general dental services or other necessary care, our team is always willing to help you determine which procedures are covered by your insurance plan ahead of time. For treatments that don’t happen to be covered, we can give you an estimated rundown of costs and, if necessary, create a payment plan for you to spread out the expense.