tobacco and/or drink alcohol excessively, 25% of oral cancers occur in people who have no risk factors at all.

Most dentists have basic training in oral cancer detection and therefore should be your first line of defense against this disease.  Dr. Nack realized the importance of early oral cancer detection and completed a mini residency at Fox Chase Cancer Center during his senior year of dental school.  He has since taken many hours of continuing education on this topic and has carefully trained his team to help locate suspicious areas and bring them to his attention.  You will notice that we perform these examinations during your new patient experience and at each hygiene visit.

Signs of oral cancer can include:
   • A sore that bleeds easily or does not heal
   • A color change of the oral tissues
   • A lump, thickening, rough spot, crust or small, eroded area
   • Pain, tenderness or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips.

If Dr. Nack finds any suspicious areas during his cancer examination, he may recommend one or several methods to make a diagnosis: 
   • A Vizilite exam is a screening test that we use on patients in higher risk categories.  In simple terms, our
     patient is asked to rinse for a minute with an acidic liquid, then the oral cavity is inspected under a
     specially designed light technology for any cellular changes.
   • A CDX brush biopsy is a painless test performed on areas that look harmless or do not have a clear
     cause. This test can detect potentially dangerous cells when the disease is still at an early stage.
   • A scalpel biopsy is usually performed on lesions that have had a positive result from one of the above
    tests or are suspicious and dangerous looking areas.

Remember to visit your dentist regularly. If you notice any unusual changes in your mouth, call your dentist immediately. Together you and your dentist can fight and win the battle against oral cancer.