oral cancer Archives | Sterling Heights Dentist, Dr. Farhat of Dental 1 Care

What Is Oral Cancer Screening?

December 5, 2019 by Claire Leave a Comment

Oral cancer screening refers to an annual examination performed by your dentist in Sterling Heights, MI. This screening is used to identify signs of cancerous or precancerous conditions inside your mouth. The purpose of performing this examination is to catch oral cancer early when the odds of a complete cure are highest. At Dental One Care, we routinely perform oral cancer screenings during our patients’ routine visits. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about oral cancer screening.

Why Oral Cancer Screening Is Done

As already mentioned, Dr. Fardi Farhat, an orthodontist in Sterling Heights MI, conducts oral cancer screening to detect oral cancer or lesions that point to the possibility of oral cancer.

These screenings are particularly vital for people who are at a higher risk of developing oral cancer. The risk factors include;

Users of tobacco (cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snuff, cigars, and pipes)
Heavy alcohol drinkers
A history of oral cancer
A history of intense sun exposure (this heightens the risk for lip cancer)

When you visit Dental One Care, ask Dr. Fardi Farhat if you are at risk of developing oral cancer. The dentist in Sterling Heights MI will ask you several questions to ascertain your risk level. If you are found to be at risk, then oral cancer screening may become part of the routine assessments that you undergo at your dental check-up.

Limitations of Oral Cancer Screening

Additional Tests May Be Required

Many people may have sores in their mouths. Dentists in Sterling Heights explain that oral exams may not be sufficient to identify the cancerous or noncancerous sores. Additional tests may be required before a definitive oral cancer diagnosis can be made.

Not All Oral Cancers Are Detectable During Oral Exams

Cancers are abnormal cell growth patterns, and it is unlikely that an oral exam will unearth all the abnormal areas in your mouth. This means that the dentist could miss a cancerous lesion during your oral cancer screening exercise.

The Scientific Community is Still Divided

There is no research yet to confirm that screening for oral cancer can reduce the number of deaths from this condition. However, since the chances of a cure are highest when cancer is detected early, it is wise for you to undergo this screening just in case you are at risk of developing mouth cancer.

What to Expect During Your Oral Cancer Screening

Dr. Fardi Farhat says you aren’t required to prepare anything before the oral cancer screening. The screening fits nicely into the other routine dental care that you receive.

During the oral cancer exam, Dr. Fardi Farhat will look into your mouth carefully. The dentist in Sterling Heights MI does this to detect if there are any visible white or red patches or sores inside your mouth.

If you have removable dentures, our team will ask you to remove them so that the area beneath the dentures can also be examined for sores and patches.

Additional Oral Cancer Screening Tests

Dr. Fardi Farhat may use any of the additional tests below during your oral cancer screening.

Use of a blue dye. You may be asked to rinse your mouth with a blue dye. This special dye is absorbed by any abnormal cells in your mouth, making them turn blue. When the expert at Dental One Care looks into your mouth, he will immediately spot those blue areas.

Use of a light. Alternatively, the dentist may choose to shine a light into your mouth during the oral exam. The abnormal (and potentially cancerous) cells will look white while your normal cells will look dark under this light.

If Dr. Fardi Farhat finds any precancerous lesions or other signs of oral cancer, he may recommend a follow-up visit to Dental One Care to monitor your mouth. Additionally, the Sterling Heights dentist may recommend a biopsy so additional tests can confirm or rule out oral cancer. Fortunately, most lesions turn out to be noncancerous, so don’t be worried if abnormal cells are observed in your mouth. Simply do everything that Dr. Farhat asks you to do. If you still have questions about oral cancer screening, contact us at Dental One Care.

Myths About Oral Cancer

August 28, 2019 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

6 Myths About Oral Cancer

Does the mention of oral cancer, bring up any particular images or memories in your mind in the same way that other cancers, such as breast cancer and prostate cancer, do? If you don’t think oral cancer is serious cancer, then take a moment and think about the fact that one person dies of oral cancer in the U.S. every hour. That is a whopping 24 people every single day! You can now see how important it is for everyone to get accurate information about this form of cancer so that as many people as possible can be saved from its clutches. Here are some myths about oral cancer that should not detract from your understanding of this condition.

Myth #1: Younger People Cannot Get Oral Cancer

Many people believe that they are too young to suffer from oral cancer. This dangerous myth prevents them from taking the steps that they need to take to detect the disease early enough for successful treatment.

The fact is that while oral cancer is more common among older people, it can affect people of any age, including children and young adults. Dr. Fardi Farhat insists that the best way to be certain that you don’t have oral cancer is to under regular screening for the disease.

Myth #2: Only Smokers Suffer from Oral Cancer

We asked our friend, Dr. Chris Green, a dentist in Parker, CO, about oral cancer. Dr. Green explains smokers are indeed at a heightened risk of acquiring oral cancer, but many other risk factors predispose non-smokers to this cancer. For example, a family history (a child, parent, or sibling suffering from the disease) of oral cancer increases the risk that someone will also have this disease even if they don’t smoke. So, don’t think that you are immune from oral cancer simply because you don’t smoke. See a dentist in Sterling Heights for regular oral cancer screening so that you can be sure that you don’t have the disease.

Myth #3: You Don’t Need to Be Concerned About Oral Cancer If You Don’t Have Pain

It is also wrong to believe that you don’t need to be concerned about oral cancer if you aren’t experiencing any pain.

Pain may be a symptom in some cancers, including oral cancer, but pain alone (or its absence) cannot be relied upon as an indicator of whether someone has oral cancer or not. Some oral cancer lesions don’t cause any pain, so the disease may progress undetected if you are waiting for the pain in order to take action.

The best way to know for sure that you don’t have oral cancer is to undergo oral cancer screening each time you visit Dental One Care for your dental checkup every six months.

Myth #4: Stress Causes Oral Cancer

While everyone could do with a little less stress, the high levels of stress today cannot be blamed for the oral cancer cases we see. Dr. Fardi Farhat emphatically states that to date, no direct link has been found between stress and the development of oral cancer.

However, stress has been linked to other health challenges, such as obesity, high blood pressure, and insomnia. This could probably be the reason why some people have mistakenly linked stress to oral cancer.

Myth #5: You Will Get Oral Cancer If It Runs In Your Family

While dentists in Sterling Heights, MI will tell you that one of the known risk factors for oral cancer is a family history of the disease, this factor doesn’t on its own determine whether someone will get the disease. Several factors, such as one’s diet, alcohol, smoking, exposure to HPV or HIV, often combine to trigger the onset of the disease. It is worth repeating here that having a family history of oral cancer, or any other cancer for that matter, isn’t the only predictor of one’s chances of getting the disease.

Myth #6: Oral Cancer Isn’t Dangerous

When one compares oral cancer to other forms of cancer, such as breast cancer and cancerous brain tumors, one can see that oral cancer isn’t as aggressive as those other cancers. However, Dr. Fardi Farhat stresses that oral cancer is also dangerous as exemplified by the statistic mentioned at the beginning of this blog post that oral cancer kills at least one American every hour. You should, therefore, avoid taking this cancer lightly under the mistaken belief that it isn’t dangerous. Get screened at Dental One Care and start treatment early if you are found to have the disease.

As you can see, it may sometimes be hard to separate fact from myth if you don’t talk to a professional about what you hear or think. It is therefore advisable to visit Dental One Care regularly and put any query you may have about oral cancer to Dr. Fardi Farhat. The Sterling Heights dentist will give you the accurate information that you need, as well as screen you for the disease. Fortunately, chances are high for a complete cure if the disease is caught early, so don’t hesitate to undergo regular screening.

How Often Should I Get an Oral Cancer Screening?

December 24, 2018 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

How often should I get an oral cancer screening?

Many people know how important it is to get an oral cancer screening done on a regular basis. When you visit a dentist in Sterling Heights, you’re usually worried about cavities. What you may not know is that cavities are not the most harmful issue your dentist can diagnose. Actually, many people start developing oral cancer without realizing it until their dentist detects it during a routine oral examination. So, how often should I get an oral cancer screening?

Detection of Oral Cancer

Unfortunately, oral cancer is not like other dental problems, which reveal their symptoms right away. Oral cancer is a condition which does not display any symptoms until the issue has progressed. If the disease is detected at an early stage, it is possible to treat it. So, going for routine oral checkups and screening is highly recommended to detect oral cancer at an early stage.

Now the question arises how often should I get oral cancer screening?

The frequency of Oral Cancer Screening

There are different opinions regarding the frequency of oral cancer screening. On average it is recommended that you should undergo screening for oral cancer at least once a year. This exclusive examination for oral cancer will help the dentist in early detection of oral cancer symptoms if any. The sooner oral cancer is detected, the better are your chances of treating it. Additionally, you can also benefit from routine visits to Sterling Heights, MI Dentist.

Cancer Risk Factors

While it is essential that you take the screening for oral cancer at least once a year, this duration varies from person to person depending upon certain risk factors. For people who have a family history of cancer, or use tobacco or smoke, they need more frequent oral screening sessions at Dental One Care. Other examples of cancer risk factors include the use of alcohol, exposure to HPV, sun rays, diet, and gender as well as age.

We asked our friend, Dr. Cody Cowen, a dentist in Baton Rouge, LA, about his protocol for oral cancer screenings. He said that you should get oral cancer screening even if these risk factors are not present. Dr. Cowen says that the real danger lies in those symptoms of oral cancer which do not manifest at an early stage or are difficult to detect without proper oral screening.

Quick Screening Procedure

The check-up procedure for cancer oral screening is quick and easy. In a typical cancer screening procedure, Dr. Fadi Farhat will have you swish a special fluid in your mouth. Then he’ll use a flashlight to examine the inside of your mouth. The dentist might also feel along your mouth and throat to identify any symptoms. The results of the procedure are quickly provided. So, there is nothing to be afraid of if you go for an oral cancer screening.

Who Should Undergo Oral Cancer Screening?

Regardless of your age, family history, gender, and other risk factors, oral cancer screening are essential for everyone at least once a year. There’s still a chance of being diagnosed with oral cancer, so don’t take the risk and get your oral cancer screening!

Oral Cancer Statistics You Should Know

December 18, 2017 by dental1admin Leave a Comment

Oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer is one of the several types of cancer under the head and neck category. As a dentist in Sterling Heights Michigan, Dr. Fadi Farhat offers the following oral cancer statistics. As with any serious health challenge, keeping informed about oral cancer is the first step to prevention and early detection.

For the year 2017, approximately 49,670 people in the U.S. are expected to develop oropharyngeal or oral cancer. From this amount, the expected fatality is 9,700. In 2014 in the U.K., 11,449 cases of cancer concerning the neck and head area were reported. Meanwhile, 2,386 people died from oral cancer during that year.
In 2012, over 300,000 people were diagnosed with cancers involving the oral cavities and lip.
Although it is still a significant amount, studies indicate the death rate has been slowly decreasing over the past three decades.
According to experts, the high death rate is not because the cancer is difficult to diagnose but because the condition is diagnosed during the late stages.
Men are twice more likely to develop this cancer than women.
The likelihood of developing oral cancer is the same for both blacks and whites. However, the rates still vary from one country to another. For instance, the risk of developing oral cancer is higher in the U.S. as compared to Japan and Mexico but lower than in France or Hungary.
The average age of people diagnosed with this type of cancer is 62. However, it is not rare to find young people with this condition. Approximately a quarter of the people with oral cancer are under the age of 55.
At least 75 percent of people diagnosed with cancer are tobacco users. However, studies also show that it takes several decades of tobacco use to develop cancer.
Individuals who are diagnosed with this form of cancer are more prone to developing cancers in nearby areas. This includes the larynx, the esophagus and the lung. Even individuals who are cleared from oral cancer can still develop cancers in other areas. Because of this, patients need to undergo regular follow-up examinations with their doctor for the rest of their lives.

For more information on oral cancer screenings and taking good care of your dental health, contact our dental office in Sterling Heights today. Call us to schedule an appointment and work with our dental team to obtain healthy teeth and gums for life!

4 Reasons to Get an Oral Cancer Screening

May 23, 2017 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

Annually, 35,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer. Of this number, 8,000 people die from the disease.

According to a dentist in Sterling Heights, the number of new cases has substantially increased, especially among people aged below 30 years old, including those who do not belong to high -risk groups. In fact, the Academy of General Dentistry reports that 25 percent of new patients diagnosed with oral cancer do not belong to high-risk groups.

It also does not help that oral cancer often goes undetected for years for the simple reason that its early stages is usually painless. When the disease is detected at a later time, the cancer cells have already spread and the patients often succumb to chronic pain.

Fortunately, the disease can be easily detected through oral cancer screening. And once detected during the early stages, the disease can be successfully treated. In fact, early detection and treatment can lead to a higher survival rate.

Here are four reasons to get an oral cancer screening:

Your chance of survival increases

The five-year survival rate among oral cancer patients is 60 percent. That rate increases by at least 20 percent if the disease is detected and treated early.

The screening process is simple

Oral cancer screening can be done during a routine dental checkup. In some instances, your dentist may perform additional tests.

Furthermore, the test does not require any preparation on your part. During the examination, your dentist will check your mouth, looking for signs like red or white patches and/or sores. He or she may also check for lumps and other irregularities.

You do not have to pay for it separately

The screening can be done during a routine dental checkup. This means that you do not have to pay extra to get tested. However, if your dentist recommends follow-up procedures, you will need to pay for these.

A screening can save your life

Oral cancer screening is a must for people who belong into high-risk groups. These include smokers, heavy drinkers of alcohol, people with significant sun exposure, and patients who have been previously diagnosed with oral cancer. Quite simply, you have nothing to lose with an oral cancer screening.

Should your dentist discover signs of oral cancer, you will be asked to come back in a few weeks’ time for a follow-up visit. Your dentist will check if the lesions or other signs detected have changed or grown.

Your dentist may also ask you to undergo a biopsy procedure to confirm the presence of cancer cells. Call your trusted Sterling Heights dentist today!

What Should You Expect During an Oral Cancer Screening?

January 31, 2017 by Lauren Edvalson Leave a Comment

What to Expect During an Oral Cancer Screening

In order to better take care of your oral health, you need to visit your dentist at least twice a year.

Apart from professionally cleaning your teeth and providing you with excellent advice, your dentist can check your mouth and look for potential problems.

One crucial aspect of a dental exam is an oral cancer screening where your dentist will check your mouth, face, neck and lips for signs of cancer. If you regularly visit your dentist, he or she will be in the best position to notice any irregularities or potential issues. Think of your dentist as your first line of defense against oral cancer.

What should you expect during this procedure?

According to the American Dental Association, each dental checkup can include screening for cancer. The procedure only takes a few minutes. It is painless and does not require the use of specialist tools.

If you are wearing dentures, your Sterling Heights dentist will ask you to remove these. The reason behind this is because your dentist will need to see your mouth in full.

While you are undergoing the screening process, your dentist will ask you a few questions which will aid him or her in determining whether you have oral cancer or not. Expect to answer questions related to difficulties in swallowing, hoarseness, the presence of lumps on the side of the neck, difficulties in speaking or moving the tongue, and earaches.

The actual procedure begins with your dentist checking your jaws and neck, looking for lumps. Your dentist will then proceed to check your lips and cheeks. Then, your dentist will check your tongue, the roof and floor of your mouth, and the back of your throat. Finally, your dentist will use his or her finger to check for abnormalities on the floor of your mouth.

Who Can Get Oral Cancer?

Contrary to the belief of some people, everyone can get oral cancer. Indeed, some groups like smokers and the elderly are at a higher risk of contracting oral cancer. In recent years, younger people have been getting oral cancer due to HPV infection. In the United States alone, about 43,000 new cases of oral cancer are reported each year.

It is for these reasons that you should ask your Sterling Heights dentist for a screening each time you visit the dental office. Prompt detection can save your life. Plus, the procedure is painless and takes just a few minutes of your time.

10 Oral Cancer Facts

November 15, 2016 by Lauren Edvalson Leave a Comment

10 Oral Cancer Facts Everybody Needs to Know

Cancer — the dreaded “C” — is something that, unfortunately, a lot of people are acquainted with. Studies reveal that one in three people will likely develop cancer at some point in their life. Cancer cases continue to be on the rise due to a myriad of factors, but the good news is that more and more people are beating cancer than ever before.

However, this doesn’t change the fact that it is a serious concern. People should know as much about it as possible. One of the more prevalent types is oral cancer, and while it is treatable, it can really sneak up on people; this is why everybody should avoid forgoing regular visits to the dentist for oral cancer screening.

Needless to say, oral cancer is a serious medical issue. Here are some oral cancer facts you may be surprised by.

Approximately 48,250 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year alone.
Of those 48,250 newly diagnosed individuals, just a little more than half of this number will be alive in five years. This number hasn’t improved significantly much in the last decade.
Surprisingly the death rate for oral cancer is higher than that of other cancers.
If cases of cancer of the larynx will be included in the category of oral cancer, the total number of people with oral cancer in the US alone will rise to 54,000.
In a global scale, over 450,000 new cases are recorded by the WHO each year.
Oral cancers are part of a group of cancers typically referred to as head and neck cancers, and they comprise 85% of the category.
Oral cancer cases that result in death are always due to late detection.
One main obstacle to the early discovery of the cancer is the advent of the virus HPV16. It usually does not manifest common tell-tale signs of cancer such as visible lesions or discolorations.
Oral cancer is particularly dangerous because in its early stages, patients don’t feel anything different in their mouth, says a Sterling Heights dentist. This means it’s given time to progress and become a more serious condition.
Unfortunately, oral cancer is only discovered after it has spread. Prognosis at this stage is more discouraging than when it is caught in a localized intraoral area. Besides the metastasis, during the later stages, the primary tumor has had time to root deeply.

Dr. Farhat is especially passionate about having the technology to provide oral cancer screenings in his Sterling Heights dental office. For more information be sure to schedule an appointment.

Source: http://oralcancerfoundation.org

Important Dental Signs You Should Not Ignore

August 25, 2016 by Lauren Edvalson Leave a Comment

Important Dental Signs

Oral cancer is a serious threat and nobody is invulnerable to it (although there are some who are at higher risk of developing it). It’s of utmost importance to see a dentist regularly for a thorough dental examination. Early detection, followed by timely and appropriate treatment, is the most effective method of outworking the disease.

Here are the important dental signs you should not ignore and must see your dentist for right away

Loose teeth with no clear dental cause
Difficulty in chewing, speaking and swallowing
Difficulty in moving your tongue or jaw
Pain in one of your ears without any loss of hearing
Swelling of the gums that makes wearing dentures greatly uncomfortable
Lingering sore throat and hoarseness
Patches of red and white lesions in your mouth or lips
Numbness, pain or tenderness in your mouth, including the tongue
The feeling of a lump in your throat
Sores around your mouth or throat

If you spot or experience any combinations of these important dental signs, set up an appointment with your dentist to establish right away if you’re in the early stage of oral cancer or if you have some other serious dental condition.

What causes oral cancer?

According to the Mouth Cancer Foundation, there’s no known exact cause of oral cancer. There are factors that automatically put certain people at higher risk of developing the disease. Smoking, is always closely linked to oral cancer. Studies reveal that 90% of people who have oral cancer are or were smokers. Smoking introduces harmful chemicals to the body, the autoimmune system suffers, weakening the body’s natural defense system. This combination is an ideal environment for cancer cells to proliferate.

One lifestyle factor that’s linked to oral cancer is the frequent consumption of alcohol. If alcohol is combined with smoking, the risk of developing the disease becomes even higher.

When your diet that’s deficient in nutritious fruits and vegetables is believed to make the disease easier to contract, especially for the aging population experiencing hormonal changes. Ditto with frequent sun exposure – skin cancer can develop on the lips for tanning addicts.

How is oral cancer properly diagnosed and treated?

If your Sterling Heights Dentist suspects cancer in a patient they will recommends a biopsy of the area. With a positive diagnosis, surgery is carried out to treat the affected area. After surgery, radiation and chemotherapy follow to completely obliterate cancer cells.

Outworking oral cancer is all about early detection and timely treatment. Take note of the these warning signs in order to take an active role in preventing this disease for yourself and even the people you love.

If you are noticing any of these important dental issues in Sterling Heights, contact the dental professionals at Dental1Care today!

The Importance of Oral Cancer Screenings

April 5, 2016 by Lauren Edvalson Leave a Comment

Growing Interest In Oral Cancer Screenings

While most cancer of the mouth were previously seemed non threatening to individuals who stayed away from tobacco products and kept an oral health routine more recent studies have shown an increase in oral cancer diagnosis. This diagnosis are not just to patient who smoke regularly but is being found more often in older men who never smoked in their life and even younger women who had no cause for concern in the past. Nearly 100 new oral cancer diagnosis are made each day in the United States alone and close to 24 people die from it a day. That is one person every hour. With these stunning new increases in oral cancer there is more focus being given to oral cancer screenings and examination than ever before.

Most recently it has been an increasing concern that oral cancers have shifted from being primarily in the mouth area to the posterior area as well. Where in the past the number one contributing factor to oral cancers was said to be excessive tobacco and alcohol use. While this is still the biggest concern for anterior oral cancer sexually transmitted diseases are a rising concern that is the leading contributor to the posterior oral cancer.

Contributing Factors To Oral Cancer

Although it is being found that no one is 100% risk free from being diagnosed with oral cancer there are a few factors that can easily increase your chances of a cancer diagnosis. The main contributors include:

Tobacco And Alcohol

While both, tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption alone can contribute to various mouth cancers when combined they pose an even greater risk to users. Cigarette smoking and alcohol use are one of the top causes for oral cancers.

HPV

The human papillomavirus can be a contributing cause of oral cancer for individuals of any age. This is especially true of patients who are infected with the HPV 16 type.

Age

Studies have shown that oral cancers are more likely to occur as individuals become older. As one gets over the age of 40 their chances of being diagnosed with oral cancer increases.

Sun Exposure

While most believe that excessive sun exposure is only damaging to the skin the lips can also be affected. Lip cancer is a common oral cancer that is caused when an individual gets too much sun exposure.

Poor Diet

Individuals who tend to consume less healthy foods like fruits and vegetables have an increased chance of oral cancer.

While limiting the use and exposure to some of the common contributing factors for mouth cancers can help reduce your risk, no one is immune. It is become such an alarming concern among oral-health professions that most are beginning to urge all patients to have routine orals cancer screening done with their regular dentist check ups. It is equally important to have an oral cancer screening as it is to have a regular breast cancer screening or prostate cancer screening.