PREVENTION

Oral cancer prevention

Oral cancer prevention is a very hot topic in dentistry today.  Oral cancer isn’t thought of as frequently as other cancers, however, it is just as deadly if caught at a late stage.  In fact, the morbidity and mortality of oral cancer have been shown to be worse than cervical cancer.  Minimally, once a year, dentists will check their patients for any lumps, bumps or red and white marks that are out of place.  Risk factors for oral cancer include tobacco and alcohol use, sexual activity (a relationship has been shown between oral cancer and the Human Papilloma Virus), certain health conditions (such as malnutrition and immunosuppression), and genetics.

The typical oral cancer patient used to be a male smoker, over the age of forty, who also drank alcohol.  More recently, oral cancer has shown up in young women who are sexually active.

Contact Dr. Lawson for more information.