Why Screening Matters
Oral cancer is far more treatable when it's caught early, but early lesions are usually painless and easy to overlook. That's precisely why screening is built into routine preventive appointments rather than left to chance.
Because we examine your mouth regularly, we're well placed to notice a change that wasn't there six months ago.
If a spot looks unusual, we note it and recheck it rather than guessing. Anything that is still there after two weeks, or that looks concerning on the first visit, is referred promptly for a closer look.
Who Should Be Screened
Everyone, at every routine visit. Risk rises with tobacco use, heavy alcohol consumption, significant sun exposure for lip cancer, HPV, and age — but cases do occur in people with no risk factors at all.
What You Can Watch For
Call us about a sore that is still there after two weeks, a red or white patch, a lump, numbness, or a tooth that feels loose without a reason. Those are the changes worth checking sooner than your next cleaning.
Most of those findings are not cancer. The point of mentioning them is timing. A spot we see early is simpler to evaluate than one that has been ignored for months.
What the Screening Involves
It takes only a few minutes and involves no discomfort. We visually examine the soft tissues of your mouth, tongue, throat and lips, and gently feel the neck and jaw for anything unusual.
- Sores that haven't healed within two weeks
- Red or white patches on the soft tissue
- Lumps or thickened areas
- Persistent hoarseness or difficulty swallowing
- Numbness or unexplained bleeding
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the screening cost extra?
What happens if you find something?
How often should I be screened?
A Few Minutes, Well Spent
Book your routine visit and we'll include a screening as standard.