Your dentist carefully looks over your lips, cheeks, tongue, gums, and throat to spot anything unusual, such as sores or color changes. We also gently feel the tissues in your mouth and neck to check for any abnormalities. The exam is brief, comfortable, and typically finished in minutes.

In its early stages, oral cancer often shows no pain or clear warning signs. Routine screenings allow problems to be found sooner, when treatment works best and results are stronger.

Most patients receive oral cancer screenings every six months as part of their routine dental exam. Those with higher risk factors, including tobacco use, heavy alcohol consumption, or HPV, may need screenings more often. Contact us promptly if you notice mouth sores lasting longer than two weeks, lumps or thickened tissue in the mouth or neck, red or white patches on the tongue, gums, or cheeks, ongoing hoarseness or sore throat, or unexplained numbness in the lips or tongue.

We rely on enhanced lighting and magnification to improve visibility and spot subtle changes in oral tissues. In certain cases, specialized screening lights help reveal abnormalities that can’t be seen with the unaided eye.