Oral Cancer Screening

Early Detection Saves Lives

Oral cancer screenings are a quick, painless part of your routine dental care — and they could make all the difference. Oral cancer can develop on the lips, tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, hard and soft palate, sinuses, and throat. Like many forms of cancer, it’s most treatable when caught early.

We include a visual and physical oral cancer screening with every comprehensive exam. It only takes a few minutes, but those few minutes can provide peace of mind or help detect early warning signs before they become serious.

Be aware of oral cancer symptoms and take action early

Key benefits of oral cancer screenings:

  • Early detection increases the chance of successful treatment
  • Screenings are painless and take just a few minutes
  • They can identify subtle tissue changes not easily noticed by patients
  • Helps detect both cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions

Symptoms to watch for or report:

  • Sores in the mouth that don’t heal
  • Lumps or thickening in the cheek or neck
  • Red or white patches inside the mouth
  • Numbness, pain, or tenderness in the mouth, lips, or tongue
  • Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or moving the jaw or tongue
  • Persistent sore throat or hoarseness

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, please contact us right away for an evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Oral Cancer Screening

We perform a screening at every routine dental checkup. However, you should also schedule one sooner if you notice any persistent changes or unusual symptoms in your mouth or throat.

How is the screening done?

Your dentist will examine your mouth, lips, tongue, throat, and neck. This includes checking for unusual lumps, tissue discoloration, or lesions. We may gently feel the neck and jaw to check for abnormalities.

Does the screening hurt?

Not at all. It’s a quick, non-invasive process — no needles, no special preparation. You may not even notice it’s happening.

What happens if something unusual is found?

If we notice any suspicious areas, we’ll explain what we see and recommend the next steps. This could include re-evaluating in a couple of weeks, taking photographs for monitoring, or referring you to a specialist for a biopsy or further testing.

If we find an area in your mouth that looks unusual, we may recommend a biopsy — a simple procedure where a small tissue sample is taken and sent to a lab for analysis. This helps us determine whether the area is benign, precancerous, or cancerous.

What to Expect During Recovery:

  • A biopsy is typically done under local anesthesia and is quick and minimally invasive.
  • You may feel mild soreness or tenderness at the site for a few days.
  • Over-the-counter pain relievers are usually all that’s needed for comfort.
  • Stick to soft foods for the first 24–48 hours if the biopsy site is in a sensitive area.
  • Healing usually occurs within a week or two.

We’ll give you detailed aftercare instructions and follow up with your results.

If you experience increasing pain, prolonged bleeding, or signs of infection (such as swelling or pus), call us right away.