An integral part of all our dental exams
In the United States, more than 30,000 oral cancer cases are diagnosed yearly. For this reason, all dental exams at Southfield Family Dental incorporate oral cancer screenings. The good news is that oral cancer is very treatable, especially when detected early. And with our dentists highly trained in proper cancer screenings, we can detect even the smallest abnormalities and put a treatment plan in place.
Oral cancer can appear in many forms, but the most important factor is that we catch the signs before they worsen. Red patches and sores can appear on the inside of your mouth or the front and sides of your tongue, failing to heal and bleeding often. Additionally, lumps and sores often form anywhere in the throat or mouth, typically accompanied by hardened white or gray lesions (Leukoplakia) that can become cancerous.
At Southfield Family Dental, we're proud to offer VELscope oral cancer screenings. This simple procedure uses natural tissue fluorescence to discover abnormalities in the oral mucosa. Put simply, we shine a technologically advanced light into your mouth to determine if you have oral cancer. This careful examination of the inside of your mouth and tongue can detect the earliest warning signs of oral cancer.
