What Does a Dentist Check for During an Oral Cancer Screening?

All dentists are trained on how to identify signs of oral cancer and will look out for those signs at every dental checkup. If you are concerned about oral cancer, you can request an oral cancer screening.

During an Oral Cancer Screening

An oral cancer screening includes a visual examination and a physical examination. Your dentist will look inside your mouth and nose using a small light and a mirror. They are looking for:

• White patches

• Bumps

• Rough patches

• Swelling

• Sores

During the physical exam, your dentist will feel around your jaw, cheeks, under the chin, neck, and throat. They are feeling for anything unusual, like abnormal masses, nodules, and especially tissue that should be mobile but isn’t. This tissue can be painful when under pressure, but not always.

Some dentists use a tool called a VELscope during an oral cancer screening. A VELscope uses a harmless blue light that, when shone into the oral cavity, can help a dentist identify precancerous cells. Normal tissue will light up, and precancerous or cancerous areas will stay dark. In the event a dentist finds an abnormal spot, they will take a tissue sample of the area and send it to a lab for a biopsy.

Risk of Oral Cancer

Some people are at a higher risk of developing oral cancer if they:

• Use tobacco of any kind

• Frequently drink alcohol

• Have previously had oral cancer

• Have had significant sun exposure in the past

• Have a family history of oral cancer

If you have any concerns about oral cancer, call or stop by our office at My Ogden Dentist and we can schedule you for an oral cancer screening.