Oral Cancer Screenings

Cavities, gum disease, and even teeth grinding are common issues that most people are well-aware of – but what about oral cancer? While this serious condition may not be as prominent, it’s certainly still dangerous; statistics show that on average, one American adult dies from oral cancer every hour.  Historically the 5 year survival rate for oral cancer is only about 50%.  But if detected at an early stage the rate of successful treatment is much higher. That’s why Dr. Henry Hsue and the rest of our team here at Annigan Dental consider diagnosing oral cancer a crucial priority. As part of your regular check-up at our Bothell, WA office, patients can undergo a thorough oral cancer screening that helps us locate suspicious areas quickly and effectively.

What are common signs of oral cancer?

• A sudden change of color within the oral tissues
• An eroded area, thick area, crust, or lump inside the mouth
• A persistent sore that bleeds easily and doesn’t heal at the normal rate
• White or red spots (or sores) within the mouth
• Excessive pain on the lips, or inside the mouth

 Here in Bothell, Dr. Hsue wants to be your first line of defense when facing the threat of oral cancer. Our oral cancer screening only takes a few minutes as we thoroughly search for signs of cancerous cells or tissues. If we do discover an area that looks suspicious, we can provide you with further assistance towards achieving a concrete diagnosis and additional treatment, if necessary.

Common risk factors that increase your risk for oral cancer include alcohol and tobacco use, genetics, exposure to the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and age.  For people with higher risk of developing oral cancer we offer an expanded oral cancer screening using our OralID screening device that can help identify suspicious areas before they become visible to the naked eye. This will allow for much earlier detection than previously possible and greatly increase the change of successful outcome in the treatment of oral cancer.

The threat of oral cancer can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be with skilled support and attention from our dental team. Contact Annigan Dental today if you have any questions, or if you’d like to go ahead and schedule a check-up with Dr. Hsue. Our office is located in Bothell, WA, and we also welcome new patients from the nearby areas of Mill Creek, Kirkland, Kingsgate, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, Woodinville, and beyond.