Oral cancer is a serious disease of the mouth, but is curable if detected early.
Low public awareness of oral cancer results in about two-thirds of the detected cases to be diagnosed as a late stage three or four disease. The good news is that oral cancer is detectable at early, highly survivalable stages be means of a simple, painless examination. One of our trained dental professionals is able to perform an oral cancer screening in less than 10 minutes.
Risky behavior including tobacco use and high alcohol intake are major factors in the development of oral cancer. Other factors may include continuous sunlight exposure, habitual cheek or lip biting, or poorly fitting dentures.
During an oral cancer screening, Dr. Carreira will examine your entire mouth looking for flat, painless, white or red spots or small sores.
If you notice any of the following:
developing inside your mouth (especially the tongue or the bottom of the mouth), call (207) 947-4767 or schedule a time to see Dr. Carreira as soon as possible.
