Oral Pathology
Video Transcript: Understanding Oral Cancer Risks and Self-Exams
Video Transcript: Understanding Oral Cancer Risks and Self-Exams
The following is a full text transcript of the video for accessibility. Total runtime: approximately 1 minute, 1 second.
Oral Cancer Risk Factors
Maybe you know that tobacco and drinking alcohol can increase your risk of developing oral or throat cancer, but the fastest-growing cause of these cancers is the HPV virus, or the human papillomavirus. In fact, if you have HPV, you are 30 times more likely to get oral cancer, and it is affecting young people with increasing frequency.
How to Perform an Oral Self-Exam
That's why everyone should perform an oral self-exam each month[cite: 122]. Stand in front of a mirror in a well-lit area[cite: 123]. Feel the inside of your lips and cheeks, the roof of your mouth, the front and back of your gums, and all the surfaces of your tongue. Look for lumps, bumps, sores that don't heal, or discolored patches[cite: 125].
The Importance of Early Detection
Oral cancer can happen to anyone. Early detection is the key to a cure. If you find anything unusual, see your general dentist or an oral and facial surgeon as soon as possible[cite: 127].
End of transcript.
Oral pathology encompasses oral disease, their causes, and their effects. Oral diseases have a number of causes, including biological, chemical, or physical agents or hormonal or developmental changes.
Abnormal tissues in the head and neck regions are called lesions. Different types of lesions can indicate different pathologies; such as benign lesions or malignant lesions (cancers). Our surgeons will perform a complete head and neck exam, which includes the oral cavity in order to determine if a biopsy is required.