An oral cancer screening is part of a thorough dental exam: the dentist looks at and feels the soft tissues of your mouth, lips and neck for changes that shouldn't be there. It takes a few minutes, it doesn't hurt, and most people don't even notice it is happening. Most spots turn out to be harmless, but finding the rare serious one early can make a big difference. Here is what the dentist checks, who has higher risk, and how to check yourself between visits.
There is no special machine involved in a standard screening. It is a careful, systematic look and feel, done in the same order every time so nothing gets skipped. A typical sequence:
Tell the dentist about anything you have noticed yourself, such as a sore spot, a patch, a change in your voice or trouble swallowing. Your observations help, because you see your own mouth every day.
Anyone can develop oral cancer, including people with no obvious risk factors, which is why the check is part of routine exams for adults. Some things raise the odds:
Lips get sunburned just like skin, but they have very little pigment to protect them, and people rarely think to cover them. In Miami that adds up quickly: boating on the bay, fishing, beach volleyball, weekend runs, outdoor jobs and plain daily errands under a strong sun all year round.
Early sun damage on the lip can look like a persistent dry, scaly or rough patch, a blurred border between the lip and the skin, or a sore that crusts, heals and comes back. A lip balm with SPF, reapplied after swimming or eating, and a wide-brimmed hat are easy habits. Point out any lip patch that doesn't clear up at your next exam, or sooner if it bleeds or keeps returning.
Once a month, take two minutes in front of a mirror in good light. Pull your lips out and look inside, check both cheeks, lift your tongue and look underneath, then hold it to each side with a clean cloth. Feel your neck on both sides. See a dentist or a physician if you notice any of these lasting more than two weeks:
Most of these turn out to be something minor, such as a cheek bite, a canker sore or rubbing from a rough tooth or denture. The two-week rule exists because ordinary sores usually heal by then.
Finding a spot does not mean finding cancer. When something irritating is the likely cause, such as a sharp tooth edge or a rubbing denture, the dentist usually removes the irritant and rechecks the area in about two weeks. Spots that heal are noted in your chart.
An area that doesn't heal, or that looks suspicious from the start, is referred for further evaluation, often to an oral surgeon or an ear, nose and throat doctor. Only a biopsy, where a small sample of tissue is examined in a laboratory, can confirm what a spot is. Dr. Rana is a general dentist; he doesn't diagnose cancer himself, but he explains what he saw, makes the referral promptly and tells you what to expect.
At Prana Dental, the soft-tissue check is part of the exam at checkups and at your first visit, alongside the teeth, gums and bite. That is one quiet reason to keep regular appointments even when nothing hurts: our post on how often to get a cleaning explains the usual rhythm, and our general dentistry page covers everything else an exam includes. If you use tobacco, drink heavily or spend a lot of time in the sun, tell us, so we know to look closely.
Dr. Aakash Rana, DDS is a general dentist trained at NYU College of Dentistry, with more than $100,000 in continuing education. He plans and treats each case at Prana Dental himself, works with our in-house lab, and refers to a specialist when a case needs one.
No. The dentist looks at your mouth and gently feels your cheeks, tongue, floor of the mouth and neck. It takes a few minutes and is usually part of a normal exam.
For most adults it happens at each regular dental exam. People with higher risk, such as tobacco users, may be checked more closely. Between visits, a quick monthly self-check helps you notice changes early.
It can look like a sore that doesn't heal, a white or red patch, or a lump or thickened area. Early changes often cause no pain at all, which is why they can go unnoticed. Anything lasting more than two weeks should be checked.
If an irritant is the likely cause, the dentist usually removes it and rechecks the spot in about two weeks. If it doesn't heal or looks concerning, you are referred for evaluation, often to an oral surgeon or an ear, nose and throat doctor, and a biopsy may be done. Most spots that are checked turn out not to be cancer.
Certain types of HPV are linked to cancers in the back of the mouth and throat. These areas are hard to see, so mention a lasting sore throat, one-sided ear pain or a neck lump to your dentist or physician. Ask your physician whether HPV vaccination is right for you or your children.
Call or text (786) 579-0521 and tell us what you see. We're open in Edgewater, Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm.