It’s Oral Cancer Awareness Month
CELEBRATE WITH A FREE SCREENING!
Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common type worldwide, with oral cancers making up about 85% of those cases. Experts expect more than 54,000 newly diagnosed cases of oral cancer in America in 2023, along with over 11,000 deaths — more than one every hour. But despite its dangers, many people are unaware of oral cancer’s risks. Oral cancer can occur anywhere in the mouth, but it is most commonly found on the gums, tonsils, and tongue. The risk of oral cancer is much higher among men, with their cases outnumbering women’s 6 to 1. Like most cancers, the risk increases with age, but roughly 20% of cases are diagnosed in people under 55. People who use tobacco or alcohol are more likely to develop oral cancer than those who do not. Excess body weight, poor nutrition, and poor oral hygiene are additional risk factors. But the fastest-rising cause of oral cancer is HPV. Most adults will contract HPV during their lives, and most of the 200 variants are relatively harmless. But roughly 1% of people with the strain HPV16 will develop cancer in the infected area.
advanced stages. Many with oral cancer do not develop symptoms until the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. Still, some will experience a persistent sore throat or difficulty swallowing or eating. Others notice mouth sores that do not heal or discolored patches in their mouths. People with these signs should seek out medical care. Since oral cancer is undetectable to most patients, Dr. Schermer recommends that everyone over 18 be screened for oral cancer once per year. At Exceptional Smiles, our dentists use a VELscope during their exams. The VELscope is a handheld, light-up device that alerts dentists to potential cancerous or precancerous cell changes inside your mouth. The exam is entirely painless and only takes minutes to complete. In honor of Oral Cancer Awareness Month in April, Exceptional Smiles will offer FREE oral cancer screenings. This offer is open to new and existing patients, so tell your family and friends! These screenings can be lifesaving, so protect your health by calling our office to schedule an appointment!
Most oral cancer is treatable, but the survival rate is relatively low because far too many people are not diagnosed until the disease has reached
-Dr. Jason Schermer
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING “Wow! First impressions are the world to me, and I felt comfortable with Anna. She was just so, so friendly and talkative. She just thought I was the funniest person because sometimes, I have a way with words — LITERALLY! Let me tell you about the Exceptional Doctor. He was patient with me and laughed at my jokes, and he gave me hope about my teeth. Let’s pray that all of me stays cute and healthy so I can feel young with a beautiful smile.” — “As a new patient, I felt welcomed and extremely comfortable knowing that I was being treated by Dr. Schermer, who is a consummate professional.” — “Wonderful experience. The entire staff was very friendly and very thorough ... explaining every step they were going to take. Their billing is very transparent. And their technology is the most advanced I have ever seen. I felt like I was in an episode of ‘The Jetsons’! Plus ... they have Netflix in all the suites to keep you occupied while they work!”
2
(440) 483-1003
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator