ORAL CANCER SCREENING

At Liberty Village Dental Care, we encourage you to schedule an oral cancer screening today. If you have not yet taken this life-saving measure, you should. Oral cancer is a disease not frequently discussed. There are few, if any, advertising campaigns, walks, or fundraisers supporting its treatment. Still, oral cancer claims one life every day in the United States. The reason for the high mortality rate is that most people do not seek medical help until the cancer has advanced. As with all forms of cancer, early detection and treatment are critical to the ability to be cured. Therefore, the sooner you know that you are at risk for cancer or are developing signs of it, the better your chances are of beating it.

Oral Cancer Screening Dentistry Victorville, CA

Why Oral Screenings ARE NECESSARY

At Liberty Village Dental Care, we will look for signs of abnormal tissue. Typically, we will see visible symptoms like red and white bumps, hard lumps, rough patches, or changes in the position of your teeth. Much of the screening is done visually. However, Dr. Sergio Aguila will also feel your cheeks and the inside of your mouth while wearing gloves. This is to identify whether or not you have any strange or hard lumps within this tissue. Remember, oral cancer can impact all areas of the mouth, so the examination must be thorough. Since technology is constantly improving, we may use other testing resources when you come in and will be happy to discuss the process with you when you visit our 92392 dental office. We guarantee that the test is gentle and that you should feel comfortable during it.

The common misconception is that only older men get oral cancer. It used to be that men got oral cancer at a 10:1 ratio to women. Over time, the statistics have changed, most likely because the habits of men and women are now more similar. With more women drinking alcohol and smoking, the published ratios are now 2:1. Recently, medical research has proven that some strains of the HPV virus also cause oral cancer. This has changed the way we look at this cancer and who we need to screen for it. The HPV virus can be contracted as early as the teenage years, meaning that both men and women, seniors and teens, could come down with this terrible disease. Dr. Sergio Aguila recommends that all adults be screened for oral cancer. However, if you smoke, drink alcohol, or know you have the HPV virus, you should be particularly diligent about doing so.

No, at Liberty Village Dental Care, we do not treat oral cancer. We help to catch it. When it comes to cancer, early detection is of critical importance. It can literally save your life. Since we are the most familiar with how your mouth looks normally, we are the best prepared to identify any abnormalities. If we see anything that looks like pre-cancer or cancer, we will may perform a biopsy. This is where a portion of the tissue is taken from your mouth for further testing. After the biopsy sample is sent to the lab, we will shortly receive the lab results and proceed with the appropriate treatment for you. In some cases, we may refer you directly to an oncologist in the 92392 area so they can perform further tests and then discuss treatment options with you.

Unfortunately, no. Most people never have an oral cancer screening, and this is why the cancer is not detected at an early stage. At our Victorville, CA dental practice, we suggest that you visit us for a screening right away if you have never received one. Otherwise, you can generally have this done bi-annually. If you live in or near the 92392 area, call (760) 955-2273 to schedule an appointment with our office. You can be the first line of defense when it comes to catching oral cancer. Dr. Sergio Aguila recommends that you spend a few seconds examining your mouth after brushing your teeth. All you need to do is run your tongue along your cheeks, gums, and the roof of your mouth. If you notice any rough patches, lumps or bumps, make note of it.

Do the same thing a few days later. If what you felt was the result of being sick or eating food that was too abrasive, it should go away after a few days. When it doesn’t, you need to call our office for an oral cancer screening and examination. The other thing to watch for is teeth that move for no particular reason. If they are pushed out of place, something must have been pushing them. Occasionally, that something is cancer.

The most important thing you can do for decreasing your risk is to stop chewing smokeless tobacco products. This is the biggest historical risk for developing oral cancer. While it is better for your lungs than smoking cigarettes, it can increase your risk for oral cancer by 60 times! You should also stop smoking all tobacco products and limit how much alcohol you drink. It does not appear that alcohol in limited quantities is dangerous, but if you drink regularly or binge drink, you are at a greater risk. You also need to limit your sun exposure and prevent sunburns whenever possible. As for the HPV virus, you should speak with your general physician to find out if you are a candidate for the vaccine. You may also want to be tested to find out if you already have the virus. Regular oral cancer screenings can save your life. If you live in Victorville, CA, we encourage you to call (760) 955-2273 and schedule an appointment with our dental office today.

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Dental Implants

We provide dental implants so that our patients can regain their self-confidence, improve their health, and approach life boldly.

Oral Surgery

We can provide you with the surgical procedure you need to maintain or restore your oral health.

Smile Makeover

Regardless of how your teeth look today, we can improve your smile using a variety of cosmetic dentistry procedures.

Dental Crowns

A dental crown is a cap that surrounds the tooth. We will typically use a crown to restore a tooth that has been severely damaged.

While we understand that many people wait to seek dental care due to anxiety, time, or finances, we do not recommend it. Instead, we suggest that you schedule a dental exam now, even if you aren’t experiencing any discomfort. Doing so will allow us to remove any plaque or bacteria that has built up on your teeth, ensure that you don’t have any cavities that are forming and prevent you from experiencing gum disease. Our goal is to treat you before you have any health issues, and a dental check-up is designed to allow us to do so. If you live in the 92392 area, it doesn’t matter why you haven’t been to the dentist in a while. We welcome you to come back in so that we can protect and improve your oral health.

American Dental Association (ADA). Glossary of dental terms. 2015
American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® (AACD). Home page. 2015
WebMD. WebMD’s oral care guide. 2015

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3790 Bear Valley Rd E-5, Victorville, CA 92392

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(760) 955-2273

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13790 Bear Valley Rd. E-5

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ORAL CANCER SCREENING