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Jeffrey Carl DMD
Your Albany, OR Dentist


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Oral Cancer Screening
Albany, OR




Oral Cancer Screenings in Albany provided by & at


Oral cancer, commonly referred to as mouth cancer, is an illness where painless white patches, ulcers, and lumps form in the lip lining, tongue, throat, or inner cheek lining. These lumps are malignant, meaning they contain cells that abnormally multiply rapidly, causing abnormal tumors that spread all over the region. Cancer cells attack and cause damage to surrounding tissues and cells. Oral cancer manifests as pain while swallowing, lumps around the neck, or numbness. Tobacco and alcohol use has been linked to a higher risk of developing oral cancer. Sun and toxin exposure, age, HPV disease, and gender are other known causes of oral cancer. Our professionals at Jeffrey Carl DMD can help you screen for oral cancer as well as help in the management of the condition.

What Happens During an Oral Cancer Screening?


Diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer are often based on the screening or examination stage. Prevention is better than cure when it comes to oral cancer. Since cancer has no cure when it progresses, it is better managed during its early stages. Oral cancer screening enables the dentist to assess the presence of these malignant tumors and commence treatment early. The dentist uses biopsies, x-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and PET scans to determine the presence or severity of oral cancer. Oral cancer screening usually happens during a comprehensive regular dental checkup.

The face is checked for swelling, color patches, ulceration, or asymmetry. Swelling in the eye socket could also be a sign of tumor growth. The dentist checks the ears and nose for nasal pathway integrity and checks for enlarged lymph nodes under the chin area. The thyroid, lips, tongue, throat, and hard and soft palates of the mouth cavity are also examined for signs of oral cancer. Screening may sometimes may require biopsies to check for cancerous cells in the oral cavity tissue. Other symptoms of oral cancer noticed during screening include uncontrolled hemorrhaging, numbness, and persistent soreness. A dentist may also screen for the presence of cancer using a special dental tool that aids in identifying cancerous tissue using a light that exposes infected tissue. An oral lesion screening mouth rinse helps illuminate infected tissue better under a light. If tumors found are considered benign or non-cancerous, they are removed as they have a high risk of transforming into malignant growths.

If the dentist finds suspicious tissue, they might refer you to an oral pathology and cancer specialist to determine if additional investigation is required to make a diagnosis. It is important to self-screen for cancer at home by observing the oral cavity after removing all dental prostheses. Checking for signs of oral cancer at home aids in faster treatment as cancer symptoms are usually painless. Once you notice anything unexplained, you should visit the dentist immediately for further screening.

Oral Cancer Treatments


Oral cancer screening also provides treatment options. Treatment options after oral cancer screening include surgeries to remove lumps and growths, targeted radiation, and chemotherapies depending on the person's overall health, and the spread, size, and location of the cancer. We have specialized techniques to screen for oral cancer at Jeffrey Carl DMD. Book an appointment via (541) 918-2361.
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Oral Cancer Screening Albany OR
Jeffrey Carl, DMD, 3120 Pacific Place SW, Albany, OR 97321-3568 / (541) 918-2361 / jeffreycarldmd.com / 2/7/2025 / Related Terms: dentist Albany OR /