Oral Cancer Screenings in New York, NY
An oral cancer screening is a quick visual and physical check of your mouth, tongue and throat area that helps adults find suspicious changes early.
About Oral Cancer Screenings at Rock Dental
Nobody wants to hear that they may have oral cancer. Although it can be fatal, it is easier to treat the earlier it is caught. For this reason, we are proud to assist our patients with an oral cancer screening. We want to help our patients survive this often fatal disease.
Oral cancer will typically show up as white or red patches or lesions inside of your mouth. You may even notice the lesions on your tongue or on the floor of your mouth. Many people experience a hard time swallowing, bleeding in the mouth, or even swelling in your face or neck.
Why Early Detection Makes a Difference
Early oral cancer often causes no pain, and small changes are easy to overlook in a part of the body you rarely see closely. A screening gives a trained eye a regular look at the tissues of your mouth. The goal is not to alarm you. It is to notice anything unusual at a stage when, if it does turn out to be serious, treatment is generally more straightforward and outcomes tend to be better.
Anyone can develop oral cancer, but some factors raise the risk. These include tobacco in any form, heavy alcohol use, infection with certain types of HPV, a lot of sun exposure on the lips, and increasing age. Having a risk factor does not mean you will get cancer, and having none does not rule it out. That is why dentists generally recommend screening for adults as a routine part of care.
What to Expect During an Oral Cancer Screening
A screening takes only a few minutes. Your dentist looks at your lips, gums, cheeks, tongue, the floor and roof of your mouth and the back of your throat, checking for color changes, sores or unusual texture. They will also gently feel along your jaw and neck for lumps or tenderness. You may be asked to stick out your tongue or move it side to side. Most people find it no different from the rest of a dental exam.
Most screenings find nothing of concern. If your dentist does see an area they want to understand better, it does not mean you have cancer, since many spots turn out to be harmless. They may ask you to return in a couple of weeks to see whether it has healed, or refer you to a specialist for further evaluation. Between visits, call the office at (212) 332-1020 about any sore or patch that has not healed after two weeks.
Common Questions
How often should I get an oral cancer screening?
Does an oral cancer screening hurt?
What are the early signs of oral cancer?
What happens if my dentist finds something suspicious?
I don't smoke. Do I still need an oral cancer screening?
Terms You May Hear
- Lesion
- A general term for any area of abnormal tissue, such as a sore, patch or lump.
- Biopsy
- A test in which a small sample of tissue is removed and examined in a lab to check for abnormal cells.
- HPV
- Human papillomavirus, a common virus with certain types that are linked to cancers of the mouth and throat.
Related Services
Cleanings and Exams
A routine dental cleaning and exam removes plaque and tartar and checks your teeth and gums, helping adults catch small problems before they grow.
Intraoral Camera
An intraoral camera is a small handheld camera that shows close-up images of your teeth and gums on a screen, so you can see what your dentist sees.
Digital X-Rays
Digital X-rays give your dentist a detailed view of teeth, roots and bone, helping find cavities and other problems early that a visual exam alone can miss.
Periodontal Disease Treatment
Periodontal disease treatment controls gum infection, protects the bone that supports your teeth, and helps adults with bleeding, swollen or receding gums keep their smile.
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