Oral Cancer Screening - Fairfax, VA

Oral Cancer is Extremely Dangerous and Must be Diagnosed Early

Oral Cancer Screening Withers Perio Fairfax, VA

What Happens During An Exam?

Oral pathology involves diagnosing and treating diseases of the mouth such as cysts, tumors, and precancerous and cancerous lesions. Many patients experience unusual changes in the mouth, bone, gums, tongue, or throat that may or may not be caused by disease. Diagnosing diseases in the mouth as early as possible is very important. The earlier a disease is diagnosed, the faster treatment and healing can begin. During an oral cancer exam, Dr. Withers will:

What to expect

Benign conditions of the oral cavity can often mimic precancerous or cancerous lesions. Oral cancer screenings should be performed at least once per year, and more often if you are at an elevated risk of developing oral cancer. Your doctor may perform a number of tests or exams to determine the cause of any symptoms that you are experiencing and to diagnose the disease. Typically, a visual screening is first conducted to identify any abnormal areas. Intraoral pictures are often taken to help document the appearance of the lesion on that specific date. A biopsy or tissue removal is usually the best way to determine a diagnosis, as the sample is sent to a pathology laboratory for analysis.
Treatments vary depending on the type of disease that is present. The specific needs of each patient will be addressed on a case by case basis in order to achieve the best results. Some treatments involve the excision of a lesion, while others may require involvement of other specialists, such as an oral surgeon or ear, nose and throat practitioner. Our office is dedicated to making any procedure performed as comfortable as possible.
It is a good idea to become familiar with the structures in your mouth so that you may be able to identify any areas that do not seem normal. Conducting periodic self-oral cancer screenings between dental exams can potentially help to diagnose areas of concern in the early stages of growth. Many forms of oral cancer are successfully treated when detected and diagnosed early.

Contact us today!

Dr. Withers is a Periodontist in Fairfax, VA. Dr. Withers and his team are here to serve you and meet your dental needs as comfortably as possible. It is our goal to make your experience in our Fairfax VA Dental office a pleasant visit and restore your dental health quickly and professionally.

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