"Oral Cancer Screening: Detecting Early Signs and Symptoms ?

Oral cancer screening is an examination to identify signs and symptoms of cancer or pre-cancerous conditions in a patient's mouth. This procedure can be conducted by both general physicians and dentists. The goal of oral cancer screening is to detect oral cancer early, enabling prompt treatment.

Dentists can perform oral cancer screening during a patient's routine dental check-up or every 6 months by providing additional tests to detect any abnormal cells in the patient's mouth.

During oral cancer screening, the doctor will examine the overall condition of the patient's mouth, including the lips, gums, tongue, inner cheeks, the roof of the mouth, and even the back of the throat.

For patients with braces, the dentist may need to remove them temporarily to examine the tissues behind them.

The doctor then follows these steps during the examination:

1. Physical Examination of Mouth Condition
   This examination is conducted to identify signs and symptoms of oral cancer. The typical steps taken by the doctor include:
   - Inquiring about the patient's medical history and any complaints related to their oral cavity.
   - After obtaining information about the patient's complaints or condition, the doctor begins a physical examination by visually inspecting and examining the patient's oral cavity.
   - During the examination, the doctor may insert a finger into the patient's mouth and place it beneath the tongue.
   - The doctor then places a finger under the patient's chin to examine the tissue between the lower mouth and jaw.
   - The lower jaw is then examined.
   - The doctor also checks all surfaces of the oral cavity, including the roof of the mouth, inner cheeks, gums, and the inside and outside of the lips.

2. Further Examination
   Laboratory tests and radiography can assist in confirming the diagnosis of oral cancer, including:
   - Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) testing
   - Panoramic Dental X-rays
   - HIV testing
   - Culture and resistance testing of oral lesions
   - Preparation of oral lesion fungus
   - Tissue biopsy
   - Endoscopy
   - CT scan, MRI, or PET scan to determine the location, stage, and spread of cancer cells.

This is an overview of oral cancer screening. If you have any concerns, don't hesitate to visit a doctor or healthcare facility for a medical check-up.

Author: Ira Puspita Sari, S.Tr. A.K (Technical Manager at PRAMITA Clinical Laboratory, Cirebon Branch, Jl. Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo No.95, Cirebon). #OralHealth #EarlyDetection #OralCancer"