11,000 Americans Projected to Die this Year from Oral Cancer.Don’t be a statistic!
Where can I get an Oral Cancer Screening near me? If you’re in Western, PA, look no further than the highly trained providers at Marion Smile Center. During every dental exam, Dr. Marion performs a screening that checks your mouth, neck, and throat for any lumps, bumps, and abnormalities that can be seen with the naked eye. Marion Smile Center also offers a more in-depth oral cancer screening using a high-tech device called VELscope.
What does VELscope do?
The VELscope shines a beautiful green light into the patient’s mouth. The light’s fluorescence technology allows abnormalities to be seen layers deep into tissue, that typically cannot be seen with just the naked eye. Getting a screening with a VELscope allows for any abnormalities to typically be seen and therefore caught early in the disease progression. If an irregularity is found in the tissue, which will show up as a darker area under the light, Dr. Mark Marion, may recommend to follow-up again in a few weeks in our office to be scoped again or he may recommend an immediate referral to an oral surgeon for a possible biopsy.
When to get screened?
Dr. Mark Marion and the ADA recommend getting screened using VELscope yearly for high-risk patients and every 2 years for lower risk. Through more recent research, they’re finding that as young as 13 years old should be screened because teens are often sexually active and the HPV virus contracted during sexual relations makes you high risk for oral cancer. Marion Smile Center begins offering oral cancer screening to patients that are 18 years or older, but it is available to anyone of any age if there are high-risk factors.
What are High-Risk Factors?
- Smoke or Vape
- Chew or Tobacco
- Overweight
- Diabetes
- 1 or more alcoholic beverages per day
- Family history of Oral Cancer
- ANY Cancer
- Chemotherapy
- HPV
- Clench, Grind or Chew Cheeks
- Wear night guard
What to look out for at home?
It’s a good idea to be aware of your body so that you can notice any changes that might occur as early as possible. In oral cancer’s early stages, it is typically painless and can easily go unnoticed. Here are some things you can be aware of for routine home evaluations on yourself:
- Check your tongue, gums, inner cheeks, lips, and palette for any white or red patches or sores that don’t heal within 14 days.
- Feel for lumps or masses in your mouth or neck.
- Notice any pain or difficulty speaking, chewing, or swallowing.
- Numbness in the mouth or facial region.
- Hoarseness in your voice that lasts for a long time.
- Persistent earache.
If you notice any of the above, please get in to see a dentist who does this advanced oral cancer screening with the latest in dental technology immediately. Not all dentists do this advanced oral cancer screening. As a dentist near Zelienople, PA, Dr. Mark Marion, and his team are experts in conducting oral cancer screenings using the VELscope fluorescence technology. Depending on his findings, Dr. Mark Marion may give you a referral to see an Oral Surgeon for further diagnosis.
Protect your Health
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2023, there will be about 11,580 deaths from oral cancer in United States. If oral cancer is found early, there is a 83% survival rate. If it’s found in a later stage, typically after it can be seen by the naked eye, the survival rate drops to 40%. Besides preventing death, Dr. Marion wants to prevent disfiguring and disabling surgeries that can make eating and speaking difficult. EARLY DETECTION DOES MATTER!
Preventative Care in Zelienople, PA
Getting a quick, painless oral cancer screening during your regular preventative care dental visits will give you peace of mind. To reserve time to get screened with the VELscope, call the caring team at Marion Smile Center at 724.452.4300 today or click here to reserve a time. Rest assured, you’re in great hands at Marion Smile Center.
To learn more about other dental services offered, click here.
