Oral and Throat Cancer occurs in about 42,000 Americans per year! The five year survival rate is only at 64% according to the American Dental Society. How scary!!
Below are the symptoms the American Dental Society say are most likely:
Like most cancer, if oral cancer is diagnosed and treated early, the treatment-related health problems are reduced.
Your oral cavity consists of your lips, cheek lining, gums, front part of your tongue, floor of your mouth, and your hard palate.
Your throat starts at the soft palate and continues into your throat. The throat includes the back section of your tongue and the area where your tongue attaches to the floor of your mouth.
At all of your Dental exams with Dr. Ross, we examine your oral cavity and your throat for any abnormal lesions. By doing an Oral Cancer Screening at every exam, we improve the chances that suspicious changes in your oral cavity will be caught early. Suspicious lesions that are found, are usually easier to treat if caught early.
This diagram shows the anatomy of the oral cavity.
Like always, cancer does not discriminate. People who smoke, chew or use snuff are at greater risk to develop cancerous lesions in their mouth. 80% of people who have Oral/Throat cancer are past tobacco users.
Alcohol also makes the risk of Oral/Throat cancer go up. 70% of people who have been diagnosed with this type of cancer have abused alcohol.
Make sure you are aware of your oral health! Come in and get an oral cancer screening!
April is a busy month here at Ross Family Dentistry!
Megan is our Dental Hygienist here at Ross Family Dentistry. She has been with us for about 2 years and we are so happy that she is part of our team. She practices with great dental knowledge and gentle hands. She has a way of treating everyone with respect and understanding and doesn’t want anyone to feel embarrassed with the state of their mouth. She wants to work together with you, to maximize your oral health and form great oral hygiene habits. If you haven’t met Megan, it’s time. You’ll notice that she really is great at what she does!
Megan, Dental Hygienist at Ross Family Dentistry.
Kathleen is our Front Office Coordinator, and she has been with Ross Family Dentistry since we opened back in 2010! Kathleen brings exceptional service and has a great understanding of dentistry! She can help you schedule an appointment and knows what to expect during that upcoming appointment. She can help you understand your insurance and how to maximize your benefits. She’s even been known to pre-authorize your treatment with your insurance company so you know what they will pay for each treatment before you even have it done!! She truly does help make your experience of going to the dentist much more enjoyable, and with years of experience in the Dental profession, you’ll be able to see why!
We appreciate everything Megan and Kathleen do for our practice and our patients! They are both absolutely wonderful! If you think that they are wonderful, too, be sure to let them know by flashing a shiny smile their way!