What is oral cancer?
Oral cancer is a potentially fatal disease. If detected early, oral cancer can be completely cured. If it
is not detected early, patients generally undergo major surgery, many such patients only surviving for a few years
after surgery.
How common is oral cancer?
Sores and lesions in the mouth are very common. Most are not dangerous. Those that are harmful can only be fully
treated if detected early.
What can I do about oral cancer?
Regular dental checkups include a complete oral examination, wherein your dentist can check for sores and lesions in
your mouth. Many oral lesions are small and flat and detectable only by a dentist. Dentists also can perform a quick, painless brush biopsy of sores to determine if they are harmful. This test
does not require anesthesia or numbing.