Shrewsbury Dental Clinic Reports Record Turnout For Mouth Cancer Checks
A dental clinic in Shrewsbury has reported a significant increase in the number of patients attending mouth cancer screening checks.
The team at Esthetique Dental in Hadnall have been offering screening checks this month as part of Mouth Cancer Action Month and dentists are delighted with the high turnout.
So far, no cases have been diagnosed, but Dr Thomas Norlin said that it is positive that people are making the effort to get checked out. Dr Norlin, who is clinical director of the practice, which is based on Sansaw Business Park, said that it is encouraging that people are adopting a cautious approach and making the most of the screening sessions, especially as the latest figures show that someone dies from mouth cancer every five hours in the UK.
Dr Norlin said that if dentists are able to see people, this will help to ensure that more cases are diagnosed at an early stage, which will make a massive difference to five-year survival rates, which currently stand at around 50 per cent.
Dr Norlin encouraged patients to look out for the early warning signs of oral cancer, which include red or white patches in the mouth, unusual swelling in the mouth or throat, which may make it more difficult to swallow, and sores and ulcers, which take longer than 2-3 weeks to heal.
Dr Norlin and his team will be offering free screening throughout the month of November and are asking patients to leave the practice wearing a blue ribbon for the Mouth Cancer Foundation, which they are supporting this month.
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