Non-Healing Sore Or Patch
Red, white, dark or mixed-colour areas, ulcers and sores that do not heal should be examined.
Port Dover Family Dentistry
Oral Cancer Screening in Port Dover
Oral cancer screening in Port Dover includes a visual and tactile examination for unusual changes, with follow-up or referral when an area needs assessment.
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Oral cancer screening in Port Dover
A Visual And Tactile Check For Unusual Changes
During an oral cancer examination, the dentist looks closely at the lips, cheeks, gums, tongue, floor and roof of the mouth and throat area. The jaw, neck and lymph nodes may also be gently felt for lumps, tenderness or texture changes.
Most oral changes are not cancer, but appearance alone cannot confirm what a spot is. Screening can identify an area that deserves attention; diagnosis may require follow-up, specialist assessment or a biopsy.
Screening is not a diagnosis
A normal visual and tactile examination cannot rule out every cancer, and a suspicious finding does not mean cancer. Persistent or concerning changes may need biopsy or referral.
Changes worth checking
Signs And Symptoms To Have Assessed
Book an assessment for a new or unexplained change, especially when it persists, worsens or affects normal function.
Lump Or Texture Change
A new lump, thickened area, rough spot, unexplained bleeding or numbness can warrant assessment.
Tongue Or Throat Change
Persistent pain, altered tongue movement or sensation, hoarseness, or difficulty chewing or swallowing should be discussed.
Neck Or Jaw Change
A neck lump, unexplained ear pain, jaw stiffness or a change in how dentures fit may need investigation.
Arrange an assessment for an unexplained mouth or lip change that lasts longer than two weeks, and call sooner if it is growing, bleeding, painful or affecting swallowing or breathing.
A systematic examination
What Happens During The Screening
Review Health & Risk
We ask about symptoms, duration, tobacco and alcohol exposure, sun exposure, prior oral changes, medications, immune health and relevant medical history.
Look & Feel
The dentist uses good lighting and a mirror to inspect oral tissues, then gently feels selected areas of the mouth, jaw and neck.
Document & Plan
A finding may be described or photographed for comparison, reviewed after a short interval, or referred promptly for biopsy or specialist assessment.
If an area needs attention
The Next Step Depends On How The Change Looks And Behaves
Irritation, infection, trauma and other non-cancerous conditions can resemble concerning lesions. The dentist considers the location, colour, texture, border, symptoms, duration and possible local causes before recommending the next step.
A persistent or clinically suspicious area may need immediate referral or a biopsy, because examination alone cannot establish a diagnosis. Tissue analysis is used to determine what the cells are; imaging may be arranged later when specialists need to assess deeper tissue or the extent of a confirmed condition.
Short Review Interval
A clearly identifiable source of irritation may be removed and the area rechecked to confirm that it resolves.
Biopsy Or Referral
Persistent, unexplained or suspicious tissue may be sampled or referred to an appropriate specialist without delay.
Further Testing
If a diagnosis requires it, the treating medical team may use imaging and other tests to guide staging and care.
Know your risk
Risk Factors Help Guide The Conversation
Anyone can develop oral cancer. Risk factors do not prove that a person has cancer, but they can inform prevention, symptom review and clinical follow-up.
Tobacco And Betel Quid
Smoking, smokeless tobacco and betel-quid or areca-nut use increase risk. Vaping is not a risk-free substitute for oral health.
Alcohol
Alcohol raises oral cancer risk, and combined tobacco and alcohol exposure increases risk more than either factor alone.
HPV, Age And Immune Health
Some head-and-neck cancers are related to HPV. Risk also changes with age, immune health and personal medical history.
Sun And Previous Changes
Long-term sun exposure raises lip-cancer risk. Prior leukoplakia, oral cancer or certain chronic oral conditions may change follow-up needs.
Oral cancer occurs more often in men, and family history, diet and other health factors may also be relevant. Having a risk factor does not mean you have cancer, and having no known risk factors does not eliminate the possibility.
Risk reduction and self-awareness
Support Oral Health Between Visits
No routine or self-check can prevent every oral cancer, but modifiable risk reduction and prompt assessment of changes are worthwhile.
Avoid Tobacco
Do not smoke or use smokeless tobacco or betel products. Ask your healthcare team for quitting support if needed.
Limit Alcohol
Reducing alcohol exposure lowers an important modifiable risk, particularly for people who also use tobacco.
Protect Lips And Discuss HPV Prevention
Use sun protection on the lips and ask an appropriate healthcare professional about HPV vaccination and prevention.
Know What Is Normal
In bright light, periodically look at the lips, gums, cheeks, tongue—including the sides and underside—and roof and floor of the mouth. Feel the neck for new lumps. A self-check does not replace professional assessment.
Oral health assessment
Have an unexplained mouth or lip change checked.
We can examine the area, document what we see and arrange appropriate follow-up or referral when indicated.
Oral cancer screening questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I get an oral cancer screening?+
Oral soft tissues are commonly reviewed during dental examinations. Tell the dentist about any persistent sore, patch, lump, bleeding, numbness or swallowing change and about risk factors such as tobacco, alcohol, sun exposure or a previous abnormal oral finding.
How do dentists check for oral cancer?+
The dentist visually examines the lips, cheeks, gums, tongue, floor and roof of the mouth and throat area, and may gently feel the mouth, jaw, neck and lymph nodes. This can identify suspicious changes but cannot diagnose or rule out every cancer.
How can I check myself for changes?+
With clean hands, a mirror and bright light, inspect your lips, gums, cheeks, tongue and roof and floor of the mouth. Feel along the jaw and neck for a new lump. Note areas that are new or different, but do not rely on self-checking instead of professional assessment.
What can an early concerning change look like?+
It may be a persistent red, white, dark or mixed-colour patch, an ulcer, a thickened or rough area, unexplained bleeding or numbness, or a lump. Some changes are painless, and benign conditions can look similar, so persistence beyond two weeks is a reason to arrange assessment.
What happens if something suspicious is found?+
The dentist may document the area, remove an obvious source of irritation and recheck it, or arrange biopsy or specialist referral. If cancer is diagnosed, the medical team determines its type, location and stage and may recommend surgery, radiation, systemic therapy or a combination.
