Total Care Dental
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Total Care Dental
Total Care Dental
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(773) 786-9586
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Total Care Dental and AZ Dental

Our Address

8441 W Lawrence Ave
Chicago, IL 60656

Hours

  • Monday: 10:00AM to 5:00PM
  • Tuesday: 10:00AM to 5:00PM
  • Wednesday: 10:00AM to 5:00PM
  • Thursday: 10:00AM to 5:00PM
  • Friday: 10:00AM to 4:00PM
  • Saturday: 9:00AM to 2:00PM
  • Sunday: Answer Phone Only
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Total Care Dental and AZ Dental
Total Care Dental
(773) 786-9586

Get a healthy, gorgeous smile at Total Care Dental

    • Home
    • About
    • Patient Information
    • Services
      • View all Services
      • All-on-4 Dental Implants
      • Dental Checkup
      • Dental Crowns and Dental Bridges
      • Dental Implants
      • Dental Veneers and Dental Laminates
      • Dentures and Partial Dentures
      • Emergency Dentist
      • Full Mouth Reconstruction
      • Invisalign Dentist
      • Kid Friendly Dentist
      • Lumineers
      • Root Canal Treatment
      • Smile Makeover
      • Teeth Whitening
      • Zoom Teeth Whitening
    • Patient Education
      • Blog
      • Alternative to Braces for Teens
      • Dental Anxiety
      • Do I Have Sleep Apnea?
      • Do I Need a Root Canal?
      • I Think My Gums Are Receding
      • Improve Your Smile for Senior Pictures
      • Options For Replacing Missing Teeth
      • Oral Cancer Screening
      • Oral Hygiene Basics
      • What Can I Do to Improve My Smile?
      • What Do I Do If I Damage My Dentures?
      • What Should I Do If I Chip My Tooth?
      • When Is a Tooth Extraction Necessary?
      • Which is Better Invisalign or Braces?
      • Why Are My Gums Bleeding?
      • Will I Need a Bone Graft for Dental Implants?
      • Wisdom Teeth Extraction
    • Contact Us

Chicago Oral Cancer Screening

Oral Cancer Screening Chicago, IL

Oral Cancer Screening

At Total Care Dental, we encourage you to schedule an oral cancer screening today. If you have not yet taken this life-saving measure, you should. Oral cancer is a disease not frequently discussed. There are few, if any, advertising campaigns, walks, or fundraisers supporting its treatment. Still, oral cancer claims one life every day in the United States. The reason for the high mortality rate is that most people do not seek medical help until the cancer has advanced. As with all forms of cancer, early detection and treatment are critical to the ability to be cured. Therefore, the sooner you know that you are at risk for cancer or are developing signs of it, the better your chances are of beating it.

Is it common to have an oral cancer screening?
Unfortunately, no. Most people never have an oral cancer screening, and this is why the cancer is not detected at an early stage. At our Chicago, IL dental practice, we suggest that you visit us for a screening right away if you have never received one. Otherwise, you can generally have this done bi-annually. If you live in or near the Chicago area, call (773) 786-9586 to schedule an appointment with our office.

What does an oral cancer screening entail?
At Total Care Dental, we will look for signs of abnormal tissue. Typically, we will see visible symptoms like red and white bumps, hard lumps, rough patches, or changes in the position of your teeth. Much of the screening is done visually. However, we will also feel your cheeks and the inside of your mouth while wearing gloves. This is to identify whether or not you have any strange or hard lumps within this tissue. Remember, oral cancer can impact all areas of the mouth, so the examination must be thorough. Since technology is constantly improving, we may use other testing resources when you come in and will be happy to discuss the process with you when you visit our dental office. We guarantee that the test is gentle and that you should feel comfortable during it.

Check out what others are saying about our oral cancer screening services on Yelp: Oral Cancer Screening Chicago.

How frequently should I have an oral cancer screening?
We recommend that you visit our Chicago, IL dentist office for your first exam. Based on your risk factors and what we see, we will let you know how frequently you need an examination. If you are a high-risk patient, we may suggest annual screenings.

Who is susceptible to getting oral cancer?
The common misconception is that only older men get oral cancer. It used to be that men got oral cancer at a 10:1 ratio to women. Over time, the statistics have changed, most likely because the habits of men and women are now more similar. With more women drinking alcohol and smoking, the published ratios are now 2:1. Recently, medical research has proven that some strains of the HPV virus also cause oral cancer. This has changed the way we look at this cancer and who we need to screen for it. The HPV virus can be contracted as early as the teenage years, meaning that both men and women, seniors and teens, could come down with this terrible disease. We recommend that all adults be screened for oral cancer. However, if you smoke, drink alcohol, or know you have the HPV virus, you should be particularly diligent about doing so.

Do you treat oral cancer?
No, at Total Care Dental, we do not treat oral cancer. We help to catch it. When it comes to cancer, early detection is of critical importance. It can literally save your life. Since we are the most familiar with how your mouth looks normally, we are prepared to identify any abnormalities. If we see anything that looks like pre-cancer or cancer, we will may perform a biopsy. This is where a portion of the tissue is taken from your mouth for further testing. In some cases, we may refer you directly to an oncologist in the Chicago area so they can perform further tests and then discuss treatment options with you.

When to call us:
You can be the first line of defense when it comes to catching oral cancer. We recommend that you spend a few seconds examining your mouth after brushing your teeth. All you need to do is run your tongue along your cheeks, gums, and the roof of your mouth. If you notice any rough patches, lumps or bumps, make note of it. Do the same thing a few days later. If what you felt was the result of being sick or eating food that was too abrasive, it should go away after a few days. When it doesn’t, you need to call our office for an oral cancer screening and examination. The other thing to watch for is teeth that move for no particular reason. If they are pushed out of place, something must have been pushing them. Occasionally, that something is cancer.

How can I prevent oral cancer?
The most important thing you can do for decreasing your risk is to stop chewing smokeless tobacco products. This is the biggest historical risk for developing oral cancer. While it is better for your lungs than smoking cigarettes, it can increase your risk for oral cancer by 60 times! You should also stop smoking all tobacco products and limit how much alcohol you drink. It does not appear that alcohol in limited quantities is dangerous, but if you drink regularly or binge drink, you are at a greater risk. You also need to limit your sun exposure and prevent sunburns whenever possible. As for the HPV virus, you should speak with your general physician to find out if you are a candidate for the vaccine. You may also want to be tested to find out if you already have the virus.


Call Us Today
Regular oral cancer screenings can save your life. If you live in Chicago, IL, we encourage you to call 773-786-9586 and schedule an appointment with our dental office today.


Helpful Related Links

  • American Dental Association (ADA). Glossary of Dental Terms. 2015
  • American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® (AACD). Home Page. 2015
  • WebMD. WebMD’s Oral Care Guide. 2015

About our business, license, and website security

  • Total Care Dental was established in 2008
  • We accept the following payment methods: American Express, Cash, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa
  • We serve patients from the following counties: Cook County & Lake County
  • We serve patients from the following cities: Chicago, Norridge, Harwood Heights, Schiller Park, Park Ridge, Rosemont, Elmwood Park

  • Website Safety Ratings and Reputation – AVG Threat Labs. View Details
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Total Care Dental

8441 W Lawrence Ave Chicago, IL 60656
© 2021 Total Care Dental. All Rights Reserved.
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Total Care Dental

8441 W Lawrence Ave Chicago, IL 60656
© 2021 Total Care Dental. All Rights Reserved.
Back to Top | Privacy Policy | Sitemap



  • Visit us on Yelp
  • Visit us on Facebook

We’re here for YOU!!

You are safe at Total Care Dental. We are closely monitoring the facts.

As a daily practice, we already assure universal precautions as outlined by CDC and OSHA standards of infection control. Safety is always our number one focus. Our high standard of care ensures that your trust and safety are never compromised.

We are taking extended measures to further protect all our patients and team with the following additional protocols:

  • In compliance with the recommendations for public health, anyone with a cough or fever will not be allowed in the building and should stay home. We will be happy to reschedule your appointment for a later date.
  • Before your appointment, stay in your car instead of the waiting room until we’re ready to seat you in your personal operatory. Simply call us when you arrive, and we will let you know when we’re ready for you.
  • Upon entering Total Care Dental, you will be asked to sanitize your hands, your phone and keep your masks one.
  • At the beginning of every appointment, you will be asked to pre-rinse with a mouth rinse that has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.

You can be assured safety measures at Total Care Dental will continue to evolve as more information develops.

Stay well, hydrate, eat nutritiously, and get plenty of sleep.

We look forward to serving you,
The team at Total Care Dental