April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month

Routine dental care is not only the cornerstone of maintaining life long oral health, but can also be an important part of monitoring overall physical health and well being.  During regular preventive care visits with Baltimore area dentist Dr. Ed Lazer and his associates at Cosmetic and Advanced Dentistry, patients receive an oral cancer screening each year as part of a thorough dental exam. 

Oral cancer is on the rise globally and in the U.S. over 8,000 deaths per year are attributed to this disease.  Tobacco use and smoking are common causes of oral cancer, but the rise of the HPV virus has also been a contributing factor in the rise of oral cancer rates world wide. 

When caught early, oral cancer can frequently be treated successfully.  However, oral cancer has less than a 50% 5 year survival rate when diagnosed in the later stages.  Sadly, many patients are diagnosed only after the cancer has progressed due to the typical lack of symptoms early on.  Regular preventive dental care is an important factor in the early diagnosis of oral cancer.  Dr. Lazer can notice changes in the tissue of the oral cavity when patients come in twice per year for visits: this can indicate a possible health concern. 

Symptoms of oral cancer can include:

Persistent hoarseness

Pain or difficulty swallowing

Lump in the throat or neck

Persistent earache- often in both ears

Numbness in or around the mouth

Lesion or sore that does not go away

Oral cancer screening is quick and painless- and can be life-saving!  If you have been avoiding the dentist for some time, now is the perfect time to schedule a routine dental exam at Cosmetic and Advanced Dentistry in Owings Mills – restore your oral health and get screened for this growing health concern.