Procedures
Oral cancer screening
An oral cancer screening is a check of the mouth, tongue, throat and neck by a dentist for signs of oral cancer. It looks for changes that need a closer look.
Dentists watch for signs of oral cancer, because finding it early can be the key to successful treatment. Your dental team checks for oral cancer each time you visit. During an exam, the team checks your lips, cheek lining, gums, tongue, the floor and roof of your mouth, and your throat. Your jaw and neck are examined for lumps or unusual signs. A screening is not a diagnosis, and white patches such as leukoplakia may be looked at more closely. If something looks unusual, the dentist may suggest a biopsy or a visit to a doctor.
You can lower your risk by avoiding tobacco, both smoking and smokeless. The HPV vaccine protects against the types of HPV that can cause oral cancers. Our office describes screening on its oral cancer screening page. See also mouth sores.