Emergency & Special Dental Care
Oral cancer screening is a quick, painless examination of the lips, cheeks, tongue, floor of the mouth, palate and neck to look for suspicious patches, ulcers or lumps. Finding changes early makes further assessment and treatment more effective.
It is recommended particularly for people who smoke, chew tobacco or betel quid, drink alcohol regularly, or have persistent mouth ulcers. Any suspicious findings may be reviewed or referred for further tests.
Benefits
- Early detection of suspicious changes
- Quick and painless
- Part of routine dental check-ups
- Guidance on reducing risk factors
- Prompt referral where needed
What to Expect
- Review of risk factors and symptoms
- Visual examination of the mouth and throat
- Feeling of the neck and jaw for lumps
- Recording and photographs of any suspicious areas
- Referral or biopsy if required
- Advice and follow-up
Frequently Asked Questions
Ulcers that do not heal within about three weeks, red or white patches, unexplained lumps or bleeding, and persistent numbness or difficulty swallowing need assessment.
No. It involves looking and gently feeling the tissues in and around your mouth.
It is normally part of regular check-ups. People at higher risk may be advised to be checked more often.
