{"id":246,"date":"2019-04-17T01:50:51","date_gmt":"2019-04-17T01:50:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.flennikendental.com\/blog\/?p=246"},"modified":"2019-05-07T01:53:40","modified_gmt":"2019-05-07T01:53:40","slug":"how-a-visit-to-your-local-dentist-could-possibly-save-your-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.flennikendental.com\/blog\/how-a-visit-to-your-local-dentist-could-possibly-save-your-life\/","title":{"rendered":"How a Visit to Your Local Dentist Could Possibly Save Your Life!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flennikendental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/man_dental_receiving_denal_dentist_chair__1556589620_56714.jpg\" alt=\"man reclining in dentist chair\" class=\"wp-image-247\" width=\"307\" height=\"204\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flennikendental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/man_dental_receiving_denal_dentist_chair__1556589620_56714.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.flennikendental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/man_dental_receiving_denal_dentist_chair__1556589620_56714-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.flennikendental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/man_dental_receiving_denal_dentist_chair__1556589620_56714-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 307px) 100vw, 307px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ve been hearing all your life that it\u2019s important to\nvisit your dentist for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flennikendental.com\/preventive-dentistry.html\">preventive\ncare<\/a>, but sometimes it seems like a formality that maybe you could avoid. New\ndata on the growing problem of oral cancer suggests otherwise, though. Read on\nto learn why it\u2019s so important to visit your dentist every six months, and\ndiscover how these appointments could possibly save your life!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Growing Problem of Oral Cancer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This year, in the U.S. alone, the number of oral cancer\ndiagnoses are expected to eclipse the 50,000 mark, with over 11,000 of the\ncases projected to end fatally. To combat these numbers, dentists around the\ncountry have joined ranks to reverse the trend by designating April as National\nOral Cancer Awareness Month. The primary focus is on preventive care, which\nincludes an oral cancer screening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Does Oral Cancer Develop?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The disease typically forms in the flat cells that cover the\nmouth, tongue and lips, and studies show that one of the main contributors is\nthe untreated growth of oral bacteria. The good news is the disease is quite\ntreatable when it\u2019s identified early, with a five-year survival rate of over 75%.\nHowever, the chances of remission drop considerably if the disease is allowed\nmore time to develop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Fight Back<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As mentioned earlier, preventive care is your best line of\ndefense against the development of oral cancer, and it also provides the best\nroute for recovery. Here are some specific benefits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Cleaning <\/strong>\u2013\nA professional cleaning removes any lingering plaque and tartar that could\ncontribute to the development of oral cancer down the road.<\/li><li><strong>Examination\n<\/strong>\u2013 Its purpose is to identify any tooth or gum decay that could lead to gum\ndisease, which can be a gateway to oral cancer if left untreated.<\/li><li><strong>Oral\nCancer Screening <\/strong>\u2013 During a routine screening, the dentist will look and\nfeel for the usual warning signs of the disease.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How an Oral Cancer Screening Works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The screening is usually divided into two parts: a visual\nassessment and a hands-on examination. Here\u2019s how each portion is executed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Visual Assessment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This part of the screening involves your dentist looking at\nyour face, neck, lips, inner nose and oral cavity for warning signs like\nasymmetrical formations, bumps, red or white spots and ulcerations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hands-on Examination<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, the dentist will use his or her hands to probe your\nhead and cheeks, jaw, chin and oral cavity for signs of any abnormal growths.\nIf anything odd is discovered, further tests may be performed so your dentist\ncan make an accurate diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By committing a little more than an hour of your time twice\na year, you can have the peace-of-mind of knowing that your oral and overall\nhealth are protected. So to prevent the development and spread of oral cancer,\nreach out to your local dentist to schedule a visit today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About the Author<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Neil Flenniken is a graduate of Howard University, and for the past two decades, he\u2019s remained committed to helping his patients live the happiest and healthiest lives possible. He performs oral cancer screenings at Flenniken Family Dentistry, and he can be reached for more information through his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flennikendental.com\/contact-us.html\">website<\/a>. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019ve been hearing all your life that it\u2019s important to visit your dentist for preventive care, but sometimes it seems like a formality that maybe you could avoid. New data on the growing problem of oral cancer suggests otherwise, though. Read on to learn why it\u2019s so important to visit your dentist every six months, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-246","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How a Visit to Your Local Dentist Could Possibly Save Your Life!<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This year, oral cancer will claim thousands of lives, but your dentist says you can protect yourself. Here\u2019s why preventive care is so critical!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flennikendental.com\/blog\/how-a-visit-to-your-local-dentist-could-possibly-save-your-life\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How a Visit to Your Local Dentist Could Possibly Save Your Life!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This year, oral cancer will claim thousands of lives, but your dentist says you can protect yourself. 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