Oral Cancer Screening
Early Detection Can Save Lives
Oral cancer can develop without symptoms, but when caught early, it’s highly treatable. That’s why Emerald Dental Care includes oral cancer screenings as part of our comprehensive exams. We believe in taking care of every aspect of your health, not just your teeth.
PREVENTIVE CARE
-
Unusual lumps or lesions
-
Discoloration or changes in tissue
-
Persistent sores, hoarseness, or difficulty swallowing
We use visual inspection, palpation (gentle touch), and advanced imaging tools when necessary. The entire screening is quick, painless, and included in your visit.
-
Everyone. While risk increases with age, tobacco/alcohol use, or family history, oral cancer can affect anyone. Routine screenings are a vital part of maintaining your overall health.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
During your routine exam, our dental team will visually inspect the tissues inside your mouth — including gums, cheeks, lips, tongue, and throat — and gently feel (palpate) the soft tissues and neck for any irregularities. We may also use specialized imaging tools if needed to examine areas that can’t be easily seen with the naked eye. The entire process is quick, painless, and part of your regular dental check-up.
-
-
No special preparation is required before an oral cancer screening. It’s typically performed as part of a dental check-up, and you can eat, drink, brush, or floss normally before your appointment.
-
-
Oral cancer screenings are designed to identify visible and palpable signs of abnormalities, but they cannot detect every cancerous change. If something unusual is found, your dentist may recommend follow-up testing such as a biopsy or referral to a specialist for further evaluation.
-
-
Emerald Dental Care performs an oral cancer screening at every routine exam because regular screenings help detect changes early when treatment is most effective. The frequency may also be personalized based on your health history and individual risk factors.
-
-
If the dentist notices any unusual lesions, patches, or lumps during your screening, they will explain the findings and may recommend further steps — such as monitoring the area, advanced imaging, or a biopsy — to determine whether the change is benign or requires treatment.
-
-
During your routine exam, our dental team will visually inspect the tissues inside your mouth — including gums, cheeks, lips, tongue, and throat — and gently feel (palpate) the soft tissues and neck for any irregularities. We may also use specialized imaging tools if needed to examine areas that can’t be easily seen with the naked eye. The entire process is quick, painless, and part of your regular dental check-up.
-
-
No special preparation is required before an oral cancer screening. It’s typically performed as part of a dental check-up, and you can eat, drink, brush, or floss normally before your appointment.
-
-
Oral cancer screenings are designed to identify visible and palpable signs of abnormalities, but they cannot detect every cancerous change. If something unusual is found, your dentist may recommend follow-up testing such as a biopsy or referral to a specialist for further evaluation.
-
-
Emerald Dental Care performs an oral cancer screening at every routine exam because regular screenings help detect changes early when treatment is most effective. The frequency may also be personalized based on your health history and individual risk factors.
-
-
If the dentist notices any unusual lesions, patches, or lumps during your screening, they will explain the findings and may recommend further steps — such as monitoring the area, advanced imaging, or a biopsy — to determine whether the change is benign or requires treatment.
-