Oral Cancer Screening for Kids – Allen, TX
Early Detection to Keep Your Child & Their Smile Safe
It’s important to know that oral cancer is a prevalent disease that’s diagnosed every year. Even though most of these instances are found in adults, this doesn’t mean that children aren’t also diagnosed with it as well. For this reason, to help you and your little one keep an eye on their overall health, we also perform oral cancer screenings for kids in Allen! This process is non-invasive and can be completed at the same time as your child’s dental checkup and cleaning. Read on to learn more about this potentially life-saving screening or give us a call today to schedule an appointment for your little one.
Why Choose Sprout Dentistry for Kids of Allen for Oral Cancer Screenings?
- Prioritizes a Holistic Approach to Your Child’s Health
- Friendly & Compassionate Dental Team
- Sedation Options for Comfort & Relaxation
Signs and Symptoms of Oral Cancer
Firstly, here are some of the typical indications that you’ll want to check at home with your child:
- Soft tissue in your child’s mouth that is rough, crusty, or thickening
- A chronic sore throat
- Trouble chewing, swallowing, or moving their tongue
- Sores or lesions in their mouth that haven’t healed after 10 days
- Your child says that part of their mouth feels numb
- Changes in their voice
- Flat patches of tissue with a velvety texture (might be red, white, or speckled)
- Constant ear pain
Why Do We Check Children for Oral Cancer
Although it’s rare, oral cancer in childhood is still a possibility. And even if some tumors that are found in children’s oral cavities are benign or non-harmful, our team needs to confirm that they are. This is especially because the survival rate when oral cancer is detected early is 85%-90%. That’s why, when it comes to more serious diseases like this, we want to ensure every child has the best advantage of early detection.
What Can Your Child Expect During Their Screening?
This treatment only takes a few minutes to complete and your child can expect the following steps in the process:
- Our team will visually evaluate their lips, which is a common place for certain types of skin cancer.
- We will then check the back of your child’s throat and ask them to say “Ahhh” while sticking out their tongue.
- We will check the roof of their mouth, underneath their tongue, and the inside of their cheeks.
- Our team might also carefully palpate the floor of the mouth or beneath their jaw to detect any bumps, lumps, or tender spots.