Saturday, February 14, 2015

What is Oral Cancer?


According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, “the term oral cancer includes cancers of the mouth and the pharynx (the back of the throat).” 

During regular cleaning and exams, your dentist should be looking at your lips, gums, cheeks, and tongue (the sides and underneath). When diagnosing oral cancer early, your mouth may be showing the following signs, like red or white patches, sores that bleed, a hard spot or a lump, and/or a roughened area. To learn more about the symptoms you may experience, read our article titled “The Dentist’s Role in Detecting HPV.” 

family dentist Howell Michigan

If your dentist isn’t regularly checking your mouth for these symptoms, you should switch to an experienced and knowledgeable dentist who is concerned about you, your overall health and wellbeing. 

The dedicated family dentists in Howell at Dr. DiStefano & Associates provide excellent, personalized care and services to make your visits as comfortable and pleasant as possible. Our ultimate goal is to help you improve you and your family’s dental health through care and education. We’re also dedicated to maintaining a higher level of service to our patients so we can remain the best family dentists in Howell Michigan.


In an effort to help patients identify their risk for oral cancer, we now offer the OraRisk HPV test at our dentist office in Howell, Michigan. It is a non-invasive screening tool used to identify the types of HPV that could lead to oral cancer. The test allows us to establish if the patient is at an increased risk for oral cancer and determine appropriate action.

Call Doctor Gary DiStefano, D.D.S., your favorite family dentist in Howell, Michigan today to schedule your first oral cancer screening.  We’ll get you on your way to better health! 517-546-8983