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100 Canal Pointe Boulevard, Suite 116 Princeton, NJ 08540

Oral Cancer Screening

Saving Lives Through Oral Cancer Screening

Oral cancer is a dangerous disease that kills thousands of Americans each year. The best treatment is diagnosing the disease early, when it’s less invasive. As an oral health expert, Dr. Bestandji is one of your best resources when it comes to screening for and diagnosing precancerous and oral cancer tissues in and around the mouth.

Risk Factors for Oral Cancer

  • Genetic/family history
  • Sun exposure
  • Viruses (such as HPV)
  • Tobacco and alcohol use

Even if you have a fairly healthy lifestyle, it’s important to get screened for oral cancer. It could save your life. The best treatment for such cancers is early diagnosis, because most people will never find them on their own until it has already reached a life-threatening stage.

What to Expect

During each checkup you make at Canal Vista Family Dental, we will perform an oral cancer screening.  Even individuals who are not typically “at risk” (such as people who smoke or drink alcohol) will be screened.

During your oral cancer exam, we look at the hard and soft tissues of your mouth, neck, and face to check for any abnormalities. If we see anything we suspect may be oral cancer, pre-cancerous, or if there’s anything that you’re concerned about, then we can conduct a biopsy for formal evaluation.

Advanced Screening for Earlier Diagnosis

Our Princeton, NJ dentist now uses advanced ViziLite oral cancer screening technology to pinpoint abnormal and precancerous tissues earlier than ever. With ViziLite it’s possible to identify potentially cancerous areas inside of the mouth that aren’t visible to the naked eye. Plus, the entire process is pain-free.

If Dr. Bestandji suspects an area of unhealthy tissue, she may choose to see you back for a re-evaluation in two weeks or go ahead and refer you to an appropriate specialist for a biopsy.

What Does Oral Cancer Look Like?

Since most types of oral cancer aren’t obvious until they’re quite progressed, it’s important to become familiar with what’s healthy and not healthy when it comes to the way your oral tissues look. Let our Princeton, NJ dentist know if you’re experiencing any of the following signs of oral cancer:

  • Sores that last more than two weeks
  • Tooth mobility
  • Sunken-in areas
  • Raised bumps, lumps, or knots
  • Coloration such as white or red spots that differ than the tissues around them

Even Healthy People are at Risk

It’s not uncommon to hear of people developing oral cancer that may have never smoked a day in their life. That’s why we screen every patient that steps into our Princeton, NJ family dental practice.

If you’ve never had an oral cancer screening or are worried about an area that looks different than the tissues around it, we encourage you to contact Canal Vista Family Dental to schedule a ViziLite oral cancer screening as soon as possible. New patients are always welcome, including young children! Most insurance plans are accepted.

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Other Preventative Services

Because most common dental problems are preventable, Dr. Bestandji opts to incorporate strategies that help our patients reduce the risk of tooth decay from a very early age. This may be through protective dental sealants, fluoride, or even ClearCorrect orthodontic trays to make it easier for you to keep your smile clean.

Has it been more than six months since your last exam and cleaning? Are you looking for a family dentist in Princeton? Canal Vista Family Dental accepts patients of all ages. Contact us today to request your first appointment.