Oral Cancer Screening

Testing for Oral Cancer in Livingston & Clark

Oral cancer screening accompanies initial examinations, in most instances, for the periodontal, implant dentistry or oral medicine patients which reflects Dr. Eskow’s emphasis on the total oral health of his patients.

Approximately 41,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral and throat cancers each year. When cancer is detected and treated early, treatment-related health problems are reduced.

Oral cancers can occur in several different areas of the oral cavity.  This includes the lips, cheek lining, gums, the tongue, floor of the mouth, the hard palate and the throat.

The screening consists of a visual inspection of the mouth and palpation of the jaw and neck. It is important to be aware of the following signs and symptoms and to see Dr. Eskow if they do not disappear after two weeks.

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The symptoms of mouth or throat cancer can include:

  • a sore or irritation that doesn’t go away
  • red or white patches
  • pain, tenderness or numbness in mouth or lips
  • a lump, thickening, rough spot, crust or small eroded area
  • difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving the tongue or jaw
  • a change in the way your teeth fit together when you close your mouth

Research has identified a number of factors that contribute to the development of mouth and throat cancers. Smokers and excessive alcohol drinkers older than 50 are at the most risk. More recently, the human papilloma virus (HPV), which is sexually transmitted, has been associated with cancers of the oropharyngeal region that is the part of the throat at the back of the mouth. HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers typically develop in the throat at the base of the tongue and near or on the tonsils making them difficult to detect. HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers are related to the increasing incidence of throat cancers in non-smoking adults.