Oral Cancer Screening

Get a specialized oral cancer screening in Plano, TX to detect mouth cancer or an abnormality before any doctor could see it in the mouth under normal examining room lights.

According to the American Cancer Society, every year an estimated 54,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral and oropharyngeal cancers.

Unfortunately, there is little awareness surrounding oral cancer preventive screening. Many people believe that if they keep away from alcohol and tobacco use, they are safe from oral cancer. Taking this into account, according to the National Cancer Institute, while abstinence is vital, it does not take away from the need to have regular oral cancer screenings.

Many dentists perform a cursory physical exam for oral cancer during regular dental checkups. Oral ID screening is a more dependable, FDA-approved examination to detect the signs of cancer in any part of the mouth.

Overview of Oral ID Cancer Screening Light

Oral ID employs Fluorescence Visualization (FV) to expose abnormal tissue, lesions, and changes in the oral cavity that would otherwise be invisible to the eye. This oral cancer screening light is a great way of detecting mouth and throat cancers. Symptoms of mouth cancer look similar to other less serious mouth and throat problems. This is why early detection of mouth and throat cancers doesn’t always occur, as per the Oral Cancer Foundation.  

The earlier method of using oral cancer screening dye was another hindering factor. The new Oral ID system used by Dr. David Wilhite DDS provides a better look at what’s happening beneath the surface. Blue light is naturally absorbed by the healthy soft tissue during laryngeal cancer screening. Potentially malignant disorders and areas become a darker hue than the lighter green of the healthy tissue.

The procedure is simple, painless and fast, but is proven to save lives. The sooner an issue can be discovered, the sooner it can be treated and the better the chances of recovery.

Schedule an oral cancer screening:

Contact us online or call (972) 964-3774

Why Choose Oral ID Screening?

Benefits of using Oral ID for detecting oral and oropharyngeal cancers include:

• Detecting red and white patches and lesions
• Compatibility with digital photography
• Exposes early signs of cancer
• Detects issues not visible under white light
• FDA approved
• Allows for evaluation post treatment
• Increases survival chances by finding cancer in its early stages
• Painless and quick examination

Performing an Oral ID Examination

Oral ID examination is a quick 2 – 3 minute exam that is a painless and non-invasive method of detecting oral or oropharyngeal cancer. There are several symptoms that might go ignored during a self-oral cancer screening. Dr. David Wilhite DDS performs a visual examination of your mouth as per the guidelines established by the American Dental Association.

You are required to wear special eyewear before using the Oral ID wand to look for abnormal cells or growth inside your mouth. Lesions and other abnormal areas pop up under the specialized light. The doctor may take a biopsy from the inner cheek or the affected area if signs of oral cancer are detected. The biopsy report will indicate the next course of action or the need for scheduling further screening tests.

Oral ID Cancer Screening Device

The office of David Wilhite is now offering you effective oral cancer screening using the Oral ID device. 

The Oral ID device is a specialized light using the newest technology to shine in the mouth and can detect oral cancer or an abnormality. This new device can detect potential cancer sooner than a standard examination by a doctor could see it in your mouth using normal examining room lights.

Why is Oral Screening Test Required?

The goal of screening tests is to find cancer cells or precancerous lesions at an early stage. People at a higher risk of developing oral cancers may particularly benefit from regular screenings. These are a few factors that increase the risk of oral cancer:

• Tobacco use
• Heavy alcohol use
• History of high sun exposure
• Previous diagnosis of cancer risk
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the primary risk factors for developing mouth cancer

Why we recommend this procedure

We find ourselves asking the question, “what is our protocol for detecting and monitoring suspicious, potentially dangerous lesions in the oral mucosa?” The American Dental Association has set the mandatory protocol for detecting oral lesions as an annual health history review with a visual and tactile examination.

While Dr. Wilhite has been screening for oral cancer at yearly exam visits for over 20 years now, there has always been a question of whether it would be detected early enough.

It has also been questioned, is once a year enough since oral cancer can grow at a rapid rate?

With advancements in technology, we now have the ability to “bring light” to abnormalities at much earlier stages utilizing fluorescence.

Fluorescence technology can assist in discovering abnormal lesions that may not be visible with white light. Identifying more than just cancer, fluorescence technology allows us to discover increased metabolic activity which can result from a palatal burn to a cheek bite to a squamous cell carcinoma.

So how do we decipher between the burn and bite, to anything more severe? This is where our OralID Cancer Screening Light and Dr Wilhite step in for the examination.

Using this light we can now find cancer early enough to make a difference. Before, if Dr. Wilhite found a suspicious area it could already be at stage III or stage IV.

We recommend this screening every 6 months at your regular dental exam visit. While anyone can get cancer at any age, we do advise patients from the age of 17 and up take advantage of this life-saving exam.

Symptoms of Oral Cancer

Early diagnosis makes treatment for oral cancer easier and more effective. You should consider scheduling an appointment with Dr. David Wilhite DDS immediately if you notice the following symptoms:

• Lumps inside the mouth, lips, or gums
• Sores that don’t heal inside the mouth
• Patches on the tongue, gums, or inner lining
• Bleeding, numbness, or pain in the mouth or lip
• Loosening of dentures or teeth
• Swollen jaw
• Feeling of something stuck in the throat
• Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue

There are several benefits to including Oral ID as part of your regular dental check ups.

Schedule Your Oral ID Screening Today

Thousands of American lives can be saved each year with early detection of mouth cancer as per the American Cancer Society. Oral ID at the office of Dr. David Wilhite DDS is a simple process, and we invite you to come in for an annual screening. Cancer treatment has a higher success rate when an abnormal area is detected early.

For more information and to set up an appointment: contact us online or call (972) 964-3774