When cancers of the oropharynx and the oral cavity are detected early, they have significantly better outcomes as they can be treated early as well as stopped from spreading to other locations. Major risk factors for oral cancers include tobacco use, alcohol consumption, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection etc. At East Texas Dental our dentists follow the oral cancer examination protocols recommended by the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). The NIDCR suggests that a thorough head and neck examination should be a routine part of each patient’s dental visit and offers a simple and easy way of incorporating the screen with your routine bi-annual dental visit.
