Emergency
(215) 443-7400
What is an oral cancer screening? Routine oral cancer screenings are a critical component of our general dentistry care. It’s a quick, painless examination where Dr. Lala or Dr. Mathews looks for any signs of abnormal tissue changes in your mouth, throat, and oral tissues. We perform these screenings during your regular checkups because early detection of oral cancer dramatically improves the outcome for patients. In fact, if oral cancer is caught at an early stage, the five-year survival rate is around 84%as per touro.edu. Unfortunately, many oral cancers are not discovered until later stages, when the survival rate can drop below 50%. Our mission is to ensure that if there are any warning signs, they are caught as early as possible.
What to expect during a screening: Dr. Lala or Dr. Mathews will examine your tongue, lips, cheeks, gums, throat, and the floor and roof of your mouth. They will look for red or white patches, ulcerations, unusual bumps, or any areas of concern. We may gently feel your neck and jaw for lumps or enlarged lymph nodes. The screening is non-invasive – no instruments that cause discomfort – just a light, a tongue depressor, and our expert eyes and hands. If we spot something suspicious, we will discuss next steps, which might include a referral to a specialist or a simple biopsy to test the tissue
Who needs an oral cancer screening? Every adult should have regular screenings. Oral cancer can affect anyone, but certain factors increase risk, such as tobacco use, heavy alcohol consumption, HPV infection, age over 40, and sun exposure on the lips. If you have any of these risk factors, screenings are especially important. Even if you don’t, we include the exam for all patients because oral cancer can sometimes develop without obvious risk factors.
Our team at Horsham Dental Care takes a compassionate, proactive approach. We understand the idea of “cancer screening” can sound worrisome, but rest assured, this is a simple precaution we take to protect your health. Early detection can truly save lives – our doctors have your best interest at heart and will walk you through the exam and findings with care. By performing oral cancer screenings for our community here in Horsham (and for patients coming from Ambler, North Wales, Willow Grove, and surrounding areas), we aim to catch any issues early when they are most treatable. Your health and peace of mind are our priority.