What a routine dental check up and a full series of x-rays can do for you!
Even on patients who are seen on a regular basis things change rapidly! Recently Dr. Ko requested a full series of x-rays be taken on a patient who is seen every 3 months for his periodontal maintenance. With this full series she was able to do her complete 6 month exam and oral cancer screening. This patient presented with a possible mass near his sinus cavity that had not shown up on any other x-rays in years or even months past! Dr. Ko informed her patient that this mass looked benign, but because oral cancer so often is only caught when it is causing pain or is beyond treatment she recommended the patient to see an oral surgeon for further diagnosis as soon as possible. The patient did go the very next day and all routine tests were performed. In this case this patient was found to be oral cancer free!
In the United States alone, 1 person dies of undetected oral cancer every hour.
Please see a dentist today!
