Oral Cancer Screening: Your Health is Our Priority

The Screening Process

Regular self-examination and professional screenings are essential, as pain is often not associated with oral cancer. We leverage our expertise to identify subtle changes that may indicate a pathological process or a cancerous growth.

warning signs of oral pathology

We look for specific changes in the lips, cheeks, palate, tongue, gums, face, and/or neck. These potential signs include:

• Reddish patches (erythroplakia) or whitish patches (leukoplakia) in the mouth.

• A sore that fails to heal and bleeds easily.

• A lump or thickening on the skin lining the inside of the mouth.

• Chronic sore throat or hoarseness.

• Difficulty in chewing or swallowing.

when to seek evaluation

Any patient experiencing facial and/or oral pain without an apparent cause or reason may also be at risk and should seek evaluation. Your mouth is one of your body’s most important warning systems—do not ignore suspicious lumps or sores. We recommend performing an oral cancer self-examination monthly.

hard + soft tissue biopsy

Your dentist may notice an area in your mouth—on the gums, tongue, jawbone, or surrounding tissues—that looks unusual, is not healing as expected, or has changed over time. While many of these findings are benign and non-serious, the safest way to understand what’s going on is to examine a small sample of the tissue under a microscope. This is called a biopsy.