FEATHERSTONE PERIODONTICS & IMPLANT DENTISTRY

oral cancer screening

Over 35 years of experience with over 20,000 dental implants placed
& more than 60,000 dental surgeries performed

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Oral Cancer Screening in Rockford, Dixon, Janesville, and Madison

Oral cancer can develop in the lips, tongue, gums, inner cheeks, floor or roof of the mouth, and other oral tissues. The most common type is squamous cell carcinoma, which develops in the cells lining the oral cavity. Tobacco and excessive alcohol use are major risk factors, although oral cancer can affect anyone. HPV infection is also associated with certain cancers of the mouth and throat.

Oral cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms during its early stages, making routine examinations especially important. During a periodontal exam, your periodontist can examine the mouth for unusual sores, discoloration, lumps, or other tissue changes that may require further evaluation.

With over 60,000 dental surgeries performed and over 20,000 dental implants placed, you can be confident that you will receive high-quality care from established professionals that is designed to meet your unique needs. If you have not had an oral cancer screening in over one year or are concerned that you may be displaying symptoms common to oral cancer, schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Early treatment is the best step you can take to have a positive outcome; contact our Rockford office at 815.261.1739, our Dixon office at 815.261.1739, our Janesville office at 608.208.1576, or our Madison office at 608.416.5205.

Schedule an Appointment at one of our 4 convenient locations

Rockford, ILLINOIS

1055 Featherstone Road, Suite B
Rockford, IL 61107
(815) 261-1739
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DIXON, ILLINOIS

629 North Galena Avenue, Suite 230
Dixon, IL 61201
(815) 261-1739
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JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN

111 North Main Street
Janesville, WI 53545
(608) 208-1576
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MADISON, WISCONSIN

220 W Broadway, Suite 200
Madison, WI 53716
(608) 716-3309
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DR. MARK LINDMAN

Dr. Lindman is a native of Rockford. Dr. Lindman received his professional degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry. His graduate training in periodontics was completed at Northwestern University College of Dentistry Where he received a Certificate Degree in Periodontics and a Master of Science degree.

DR. LINDMAN

DR. JEFFERY BURCH

Dr. Burch grew up in Villa Park, IL. Dr. Burch attended Eastern Illinois University, where he majored in Biochemistry. Dr. Burch earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine. He received his Certificate Degree in Periodontics and Master of Science from Saint Louis University.

DR. BURCH

DR. BRANDON HULL

Dr. Hull grew up in Monmouth, IL. Dr. Hull earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Southern Illinois University and his Certificate in Periodontics from Saint Louis University, Department of Periodontics. While at Saint Louis University, Dr. Hull completed an anesthesia program and uses sedation and pain control techniques in his practice.

DR. HULL

DR. KATRINE ANDREASEN

Dr. Andreasen grew up in Louisville, Kentucky and received her Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Clemson University. She attended the University of Louisville School of Dentistry to receive her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. Dr. Andreasen continued there to complete a residency in Periodontics and earned a Master of Science in Dentistry.

DR. ANDREASEN

DR. NOVIN PISHEVAR

Dr. Novin Pishevar grew up in Carol Stream, Illinois and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Health with a focus on aging populations from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. After college, Dr. Pishevar received his dental education from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

DR. PISHEVAR

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Symptoms of Oral Cancer

Some of the most common symptoms of oral cancer include:

Persistent mouth pain and/or sores that do not heal
Red or white patches in the lining of the mouth, tonsil, tongue, and/or gums
Difficulty moving tongue or jaw
Lump or mass in cheek and/or neck
Sore throat
Difficulty swallowing/chewing
Unexplained weight loss
Numbness in tongue
Pain in jaw or teeth
Loosened teeth
Swelling of the jaw
Chronic halitosis
Change in your voice

If any of these symptoms have appeared or persisted for weeks, schedule an appointment for an oral cancer screening as soon as possible.

What to Expect During the Oral Cancer Screening

The oral cancer screening process is completely painless and can be conducted in a relatively short period of time. During this examination, we will evaluate your oral cavity and surrounding areas for any indications of unusual bumps or abnormalities. Lasers may be used to look for pathologic changes, such as lesions, spots, edematous patches, sores, lumps, or thickened tissue in the mouth or throat.

If your periodontist suspects the presence of oral cancer, it will likely be necessary to schedule an appointment for a biopsy, which involves removing part of the abnormal tissue (incisional biopsy) or all the abnormal tissue (excisional biopsy), which is then sent to a lab to be evaluated. Biopsies often come back negative; however, it is better to err on the side of caution in these circumstances. If your biopsy does come back positive for oral cancer, the next step will be a discussion of available treatment options, which will be informed by your unique health history, the severity of your case, and your personal treatment preferences and goals.

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Treatment Options for Oral Cancer

Although no one wants to be told they have tested positive for oral cancer, it is important to be aware that there are several treatment options available, including the following:

Surgery: Surgical treatment for oral cancer involves removal of the entire tumor. If necessary, an incision may be made in the jawbone or neck to make removal easier.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy treatment involves destroying cancer cells with chemotherapy drugs and is often done in combination with radiation therapy. In many cases, a variety of chemotherapy drugs are used to decrease the likelihood of drug resistance developing.
Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy targets the tumor using high-energy beams and is especially effective in treating cancers of the mouth. Radiation therapy may be done in combination with chemotherapy, as a preventative measure following surgery, or as the sole treatment when tumors cannot be surgically removed.

Additional treatment methods that may be included in your treatment plan include targeted drug therapy, which interferes with the growth of cancer cells on a molecular level, and immunotherapy, which helps support the body’s immune system in killing cancer cells.

Cost of Oral Cancer Screening

The cost of oral cancer screening will depend on several factors.

At Featherstone Periodontics and Implant Dentistry, we are committed to providing high-quality, comprehensive periodontal care and offer flexible payment options to help make treatment more accessible. If you have dental insurance, we ask that you bring your insurance card and any necessary forms to your appointment. We are happy to provide a pre-estimate of dental benefits before treatment and will submit the receipts, forms, and other information required by your insurance company. Once the insurance payment has been received, any remaining balance will be billed to you.

Please note that our office offers a 5% fee reduction for full payment at the time services are provided, depending on the type of treatment. We also offer extended payment plans through GreenSky Patient Solutions and CareCredit. For your convenience, we accept cash, personal checks, Visa, Discover, Mastercard, and American Express.

EVERY PATIENT UNIQUE. EVERY SMILE SPECIAL.