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Making a Dentist Appointment Today Can Save Your Life Tomorrow: Oral Cancer Screenings

October 10, 2014

working dIf you are over forty, you probably make it a point to see your doctor regularly for breast or prostate cancer screenings. Yet most people don’t make a point to see their dentist for regular dental checkups. This oversight can be a costly mistake to your good health. Oral cancer screenings are just as important as other cancer screenings and are a routine part of a regular dental examination. Often, there is no pain associated with oral cancer development, therefore it can progress without detection if you avoid seeing the dentist. The good news is that oral cancer can be effectively treated if it is caught early enough. Don’t let a fear of dental care keep you from getting the oral cancer screening you need. Make an appointment with Dr. Giamberardino today. Dr. Giamberardino and his team proudly serve patients in Medford, MA, Winchester, Somerville, Malden, Everett, and surrounding communities.

You May Be At High Risk for Oral Cancer If:

  • You use any tobacco or alcohol products.
  • You have an HPV Infection  (infection with the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus has been linked to 80% of oral cancer cases)
  • You are over the age of 40.
  • You enjoy a lot of sun exposure (cancer of the lips can be caused by sun exposure)
  • You have a poor diet (diets low in nutrients may play a role in oral cancer development)

Oral Cancer Symptoms:

  • A sore, irritation, lump or thick patch in your mouth, lip, or throat
  • A white or red patch inside the mouth
  • A constant feeling that something is caught in your throat
  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing normally
  • Difficulty moving your jaw or tongue
  • Numbness in any area of your mouth
  • Swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to become uncomfortable
  • Pain in one ear without hearing loss

Oral Cancer Screenings in Medford, MA

Life is unpredictable. While we may not be able to prevent some health issues from occurring, we can certainly do all we can to catch them at the earliest stages for treatment. Oral cancer can be treated successfully. Possible courses of treatment may include chemotherapy and surgery.  Make an appointment with Dr. Giamberardino today for better care, a better experience and a better treatment outcome. Dr. Giamberardino and his team proudly serve patients in Medford, MA, Winchester, Somerville, Malden, Everett, and surrounding areas.

See how Dr. Giamberardino is helping to raise awareness for oral cancer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GvmTT8X0AE

VELscope Oral Cancer Screening For Oral Health

May 2, 2013

Oral cancer is a serious threat to your overall health. One American dies from oral cancer every hour. It’s important to visit us at Giamberardino Dental Care so that we can check you for signs of oral cancer with a VELscope exam.

The danger in oral cancer is that most cases are not discovered until later on, so the issue has been allowed to spread. The sooner it’s discovered, the greater the chances it can be treated. We recommend all our patients have a VELscope oral cancer exam once a year.

VELscope technology allows us to quickly and comfortably check you for signs of oral cancer. The screening uses a special light that illuminates cells that are abnormal or cancerous so they can clearly be seen. This is a simple test that can be extremely important for your health.

You may think that just because you don’t smoke, you’re not at risk. However this isn’t true, for 25 percent of oral cancer cases are people who are non-smokers and don’t have other risk factors for the disease. Besides smoking, other risk factors include daily alcohol use, HIV, diabetes, and viral infections.

Oral cancer is something that should be taken seriously because it can affect anyone. Give us a call today to learn more about the risk factors or to schedule a VELscope exam.

Giamberardino Dental Care provides quality general and cosmetic dentistry from our Medford, MA dental office. We serve patients from Medford, Winchester, Somerville, Malden, Everett, and surrounding communities. Call us today to schedule your next appointment.