PATHOLOGY - Peabody, MA

Prevent or Halt the Development of Oral Disease

dental patient undergoing oral pathology exam Peabody, MA

Understanding The Dangers of Oral Cancer

Have you noticed red or white patches on the interior lining of your mouth? Maybe you have a sore inside your mouth that won’t heal, or you’ve been experiencing a chronic sore throat or hoarseness. While these may sound harmless, they are all possible symptoms of something more dangerous: oral cancer. One of the most common diseases affecting the mouth, jaws, and orofacial skin, oral cancer is often undetected in its early states without examination by specialists like our oral surgeons who are trained in oral pathology. The best way to know for certain whether you are in danger is to receive an examination from one of our oral surgeons. If you feel concerned about changes in your mouth, by taking the proper steps, we can help you prevent or halt the development of oral disease.

When to Seek Our Expertise

  • Reddish or whitish patches inside the mouth
  • A sore in the mouth that fails to heal and bleeds easily
  • A lump or thickening of the skin lining inside the mouth
  • Chronic sore throat or hoarseness
  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing
  • A lump or mass in the neck
cigarettes cause oral cancer Peabody, MA

Cancer Screenings: What to Expect

An oral cancer screening is a painless examination you’ll complete at our Peabody, MA office. Even if you are not at a high risk for oral cancer—tobacco use and smoking, heavy alcohol use, previous cancer diagnosis, history of extreme sun exposure—we recommend that you undergo these screenings every six months. During the screening, we will look for visual signs of cancer as well as feel for lumps, cysts, or tumors inside the mouth. If you wear partials or dentures, we’ll remove these to examine the tissue beneath. If we find any suspicious discoloration, lumps, or other physical symptoms, we’ll perform a biopsy. This sample of the suspicious tissue will be assessed to determine if cancer is present. Though not ideal, if you are diagnosed with oral cancer, we are trained to treat it and may do so with minimally invasive and comfortable laser therapy. A cancer diagnosis can be scary and stressful, but our highly skilled team knows how to handle these situations and will provide specialized and personalized treatment.

Take a preventive step. Contact us now.

dr blaeser discussing oral pathology exam Peabody, MA