Oral cancer screening is a process that dentists use to check for signs of oral cancer (oropharyngeal cancer) during routine dental exams. Early detection of oral cancer is crucial because the disease is much more treatable when caught in its early stages. The screening typically involves a thorough examination of the mouth, throat, and surrounding areas for abnormalities.
Here’s what you can generally expect during an oral cancer screening:
1. Visual Examination
• The dentist will visually inspect the inside of your mouth, including the tongue, gums, cheeks, lips, hard and soft palates, and the back of your throat.
• They’ll look for any unusual lesions, sores, lumps, discoloration, or other abnormalities.
• The dentist also checks for signs of persistent red or white patches (leukoplakia or erythroplakia), which can be early indicators of cancer or pre-cancerous conditions.
2. Physical Examination
• The dentist may feel the inside of your mouth, neck, and jaw for any unusual lumps, bumps, or swellings. They may also palpate your lymph nodes to check for any signs of swelling or tenderness, as enlarged lymph nodes can be an indication of oral cancer or infection.
If the dentist spots a suspicious area, they might perform a biopsy (a small sample of tissue) to test for cancer cells. This is not part of the routine screening, but it’s sometimes necessary if an abnormality is found.
3. Risk Assessment
Your dentist may also ask about your lifestyle habits that could increase your risk of developing oral cancer, such as:
• Tobacco use (smoking, smokeless tobacco)
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• History of oral cancer in the family
• Age: Oral cancer is more common in people over 50.
• Gender: Men are more likely to develop oral cancer than women.
Why Is Oral Cancer Screening Important?
Oral cancer is often discovered at a later stage because its symptoms may not be noticeable in the early stages. When symptoms do appear, they can include persistent mouth sores, difficulty swallowing, unexplained pain or numbness in the mouth, or changes in the voice.
However, early detection through regular screenings is key to successful treatment and survival rates. The survival rate for oral cancer is significantly higher when diagnosed early, before it has had a chance to spread.
Oral cancer screening is a part of most routine dental exams, but you should always feel free to ask for one if you have any concerns.