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Come and See Us When You Need an Oral Health Issue Diagnosed | Issaquah Dentist

When we speak of oral health, we are not simply referring to your teeth. We are also talking about your gums, lips, inside of your mouth (roof and sides) and your uvula (the little punching bag in the back of your throat). Many people do not realize that we, your dentists, are the first line of defense against many health problems you could have.

Dentists are trained to spot many conditions and diseases because many have symptoms that start in the mouth. Several cancers, for example, will show symptoms in your mouth first. There are childhood diseases that show up as spots inside the cheeks or turn your throat strawberry red, like strep throat.

Oddly, though dentists are trained to look for some of the things doctors are trained to look for, doctors are not trained to look for dental problems. Some diseases manifest themselves with a smell, for example, diabetes can smell fruity and kidney problems can leave you with sweet breath. Oral thrush can be the first symptom of HIV that is noticed. If you are anemic you don’t have enough iron, so your gums, lips, and tongue may be pale.

Diabetes shows up in the mouth with gums that are swollen or sore. If you are diabetic and untreated, you may notice that you get cold sores, have excessive dry mouth or you may develop fungal yeast infections or oral thrush. We can spot the signs and will discuss them with you.

If you have HIV, it may show up in your mouth first. You may get recurrent cold sores. You experience dry mouth and you could develop warts from the human papillomavirus. Celiac disease is yet another common illness that dentists find. It could manifest itself as a dry, burning feeling on your tongue and it can also show up as problems with the enamel on your teeth.

Dentists can also see cancer in your mouth. Most particularly we can see head, neck, mouth, and throat cancers. They could show up as swollen glands or sores near the cheeks. We also look for any abnormal red or white spots in your oral cavity as these too, could be signs of cancer.

For more information about dental examinations, call Dr. Sciabica in Issaquah, WA at 425-392-3900 or visit www.issaquahdentists.com.

Dr. Frank S. Sciabica proudly serves patients from Issaquah and all surrounding areas.

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Types of Oral Cancer Screening Tests | Issaquah Dentist

There are many important reasons to keep up with your regular dental exams, and oral cancer screening is one of the most important.

Everyone should have regular oral cancer screenings, but if you smoke, drink regularly, spend a lot of time in the sun, or have a history of oral cancer, you will be at a heightened risk for this disease. Fortunately, there are screening methods that can detect problems early.

Basic Oral Cancer Screening Test

Our basic oral cancer screening tests involve a thorough look at the inside of the mouth. This includes the lips, gums, tongue, and all sides of the mouth. In some cases, we may feel around the inside of the mouth to look for bumps or lumps, and we will also examine for changes in color or spots. At times, we may also utilize a mouth rinse with a blue dye, which further highlights any suspicious cells.

Advanced Oral Cancer Screening Test

Should we notice anything unusual, we will work with you to determine the best way to proceed. We may have you return to the office in a few weeks to see if anything has changed. In some cases, we will suggest a biopsy, removing a small piece of tissue from the area of concern and sending it to a lab for further testing.

Keep in mind that not all areas of concern or further testing turn out to be cancerous. In fact, few of them do, but in the event that cancer is detected, catching the problem early will give you more treatment options and the greatest chance for a successful outcome.

It is crucial that you keep up with your regular appointments with us so that we can monitor your mouth for any potential problems. Give us a call today to set up your next screening.

For more information about oral cancer screenings, call Dr. Frank S. Sciabica in Issaquah, WA at 425-392-3900 or visit www.issaquahdentists.com.

Dr. Sciabica proudly serve patients from Issaquah and all surrounding areas.