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Treatment is only as valuable as early detection. A five-minute oral cancer screening can make all the difference.

 
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What is an oral cancer screening and why is it important?

A five-minute oral cancer screening may help identify possible mouth cancer before it has a chance to spread to surrounding tissues. During the screening, your dentist thoroughly checks all tissues inside the whole mouth, including the gums, tongue, and cheeks.

 

Early detection has a significantly higher survival rate. All told, 85% of people diagnosed with early-stage oral cancer are still alive five years later. But about half of oral cancers aren’t diagnosed until the cancer has spread to nearby tissues or lymph nodes. Diagnosis at this stage is harder to treat, and the overall five-year survival rate drops to 67%. Prevention, screening, and early treatment are crucial to increasing survival rate.

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Oral Cancer Risk Factors

 

Oral cancer has a significantly higher survival rate when detected early, and while oral cancer screenings are effective for treatment, that’s not the case for most patients.

 

Certain lifestyle habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol, poor diet, and sun exposure may increase the risk of developing mouth cancer. Research shows that about 75% to 90% of all oral cancers are associated with cigarette smoking.

 

Poor Diet

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Sun Exposure

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Tobacco Use

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Alcohol Consumption

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What is oral cancer?

Dental cavities are bad news, but when it comes to preventative oral health they may be among the smaller concerns. Oral cancer refers to lesions that start in the mouth and may affect the gums, lips, tongue, palate, cheeks, or under the tongue. Most oral cancers develop in the thin, flat cells that form the lining of the mouth and throat. It is a serious dental problem, but early detection makes all the difference.

 

What does mouth cancer look like?

When we think about oral health, we mainly focus on our teeth, but here’s more to it than what meets the eye. Mouth cancer doesn’t always cause pain or show symptoms, especially in the early stages. Some possible signs and symptoms of oral cancer include:
 

  • A sore that doesn’t heal
  • A white or red patch on the inside of your mouth
  • A lump inside your mouth
  • Mouth pain that doesn’t go away
  • Trouble moving your tongue or jaw
  • Numbness inside your mouth
  • Loose teeth or pain around your teeth
  • A change in the way your dentures fit
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What to Expect at Your Oral Cancer Screening

The thought of going to your first oral cancer screening may be anxiety-provoking, but being prepared and knowing what will happen can help. Completed in less than five minutes, the main screening for oral cancer is a thorough visual examination of the inside of the mouth. Here’s what to expect.

Inside of the Cheeks

Your dentist will gently move your cheeks away from your teeth and gums. They’re checking for any unusual sores, textures, or colors.

Tongue

Stick your tongue out at your dentist. They’ll grip your tongue with a gauze and gently curl it to get a better look at the sides of your tongue – a common side for oral cancer.

Floor of the Mouth

The dentist will ask you to touch your palate with your tongue. This allows visual examination of the U-shaped area possible. Your dentist may press beneath your tongue to feel for lumps.

Roof of the Mouth

Tilt back your head and open wide. To examine the roof of the mouth, better known as the palate, your dentist checks for changes in color or ulcers.

Throat

Open wide and say “ahh.” Oral cancer may develop in the tonsils or throat. They may press down on the back of your tongue to get a better view.

 
 

Oral Cancer Screening Cost

The cost of an oral cancer screening varies. This examination generally costs around $70 to $90, depending on your location. Some dentists may offer an oral screening at no additional cost when you receive a regular dental examination. Other dentists may charge an extra fee of $10 to $35 for an annual screening. Talk to your dentist to learn how much you’ll be paying.

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With early detection, oral cancer can be treated more successfully. Schedule an oral cancer screening and get ahead with preventative care.

 
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How often should you have an oral cancer screening?

The advice is comprehensive: regular oral cancer screenings. If it’s not at each dental visit, then annual oral cancer screenings are recommended, according to the American Dental Association. Talk to your dentist how often you should have an oral cancer screening.

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Got questions?

 

If you have questions about oral cancer screening, we saved you the trouble and provided answers to commonly asked questions. Find your answers just a click away.

 
 
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Because it is not always noticeable whether a person has oral cancer, it is vital to have a regular cancer screening to ensure there are no forms of oral cancer inside the mouth. Some routine dental checkups include this exam, but not all dentists do. Therefore, it is important to ask your dentist about the exam.

 

You will know if your dentist is performing an oral cancer screening because they should thoroughly check the tissues, gums, and tongue. This exam also includes your ears, nose, neck, and head in some cases.

 

Learn more in our blog article, "Oral Cancer Screenings: Cost and Steps."

For some, an oral cancer screening is free because it is included in the cost of your comprehensive dental exam. Other dental offices charge an additional fee somewhere between $10 and $35. If your dentist does not include an oral cancer screening as a part of your annual exam, you are looking at paying between $70 and $90. Pricing also depends on where you live and insurance.

 

Learn more in our blog article, "Oral Cancer Screenings: Cost and Steps."

Oral cancer can affect various parts of the mouth, such as gums, lips, and tongue. It can also affect the insides of a person’s cheeks and the roof and floor of the mouth. Basically, any form of cancer that starts in the mouth is referred to as oral cancer. Because most oral cancers develop into squamous cells, they are called squamous cell carcinomas. These are the cells that makeup one’s mouth and throat lining. Unfortunately, oral cancer does not always result in pain; to let you know there may be an issue, which is why you should get regular cancer screenings.

 

Learn more in our blog article, "Time To Get In The Know Of Oral Cancer."

There are many new advances in dentistry that will revolutionize the way people are able to care for their oral health. With technology like CEREC, patients will be able to receive a new crown on the same day as their initial appointment rather than waiting weeks. New cancer screening technology like VELscope will allow dentists to accurately detect oral cancer in the early stages, when it is easier to treat. With other innovations like Isolate mouthpieces and DIAGNOdent lasers, a trip to the dentist will be more comfortable, more efficient, and more effective.

 

Find out about other dental advances in our blog article "New Dental Technology: CEREC, CBCT & VELscope."

 

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Sources

Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Oral Cancer Screening: What You Can Expect. 

Dentistry IQ. (n.d.). 10 Steps to Perform an Oral Cancer Screening. 

Colgate. (n.d.). Oral Cancer Screening: What to Expect. 

WebMD. (n.d.). Oral Cancer Screening: What to Expect.