You probably don’t think about oral cancer when you sit down for a cleaning. Most people don’t. You’re there for your teeth, your gums, maybe to ask about Invisalign. The last thing on your mind is cancer. But your dentist is often the first line of defense.
The Numbers That Get Our Attention
Every hour, one person in the United States dies from oral or oropharyngeal cancer. The American Cancer Society estimated that in 2024 alone, there would be over 58,000 new cases and more than 12,000 deaths. Those numbers sound scary, but when oral cancer is caught early, the survival rate can be as high as 90 percent.
The trick is catching it early. And that’s exactly why we do a screening at every single checkup.
What We’re Actually Looking For
Oral cancer doesn’t always come with pain. Sometimes it’s just a patch that doesn’t go away. A sore that feels slow to heal. A spot you keep biting accidentally. You might not think much of it, but your dentist will.
Our screening process is simple. We’ll do a visual exam of your face, neck, lips, and the inside of your mouth: checking your cheeks, tongue, roof, floor, gums, and throat. Then we gently feel the tissues in your mouth and the lymph nodes in your neck to detect any lumps or abnormalities.
We’re looking for:
- Unusual white, red, or mixed patches
- Lumps or swelling
- Sores that don’t heal or bleed easily
- Changes in texture
It takes about two minutes. It’s completely painless. And it’s included as part of your routine exam.
Who Gets Oral Cancer?
You might think oral cancer only affects heavy smokers or drinkers. And yes, tobacco and alcohol are major risk factors.
But the fastest-growing group of oral cancer patients includes young, healthy, nonsmoking individuals. That’s largely due to HPV (human papillomavirus) infections. So even if you brush twice a day, floss, and never touch a cigarette, you’re still someone we want to screen.
What Happens If We Find Something?
First, don’t panic. Most spots we find turn out to be nothing serious. But if we do see something unusual, we’ll talk to you clearly and calmly.
Dr. Richardson, Dr. Mesina, Dr. Ling, and Dr. Ardestani have decades of combined experience. If we see something concerning, we’ll explain next steps: often a referral to a specialist for further evaluation.
The key is that we caught it early. And early detection can make all the difference in treatment success and recovery.
When Should You Get Screened?
We recommend annual oral cancer screenings for adults. If you have risk factors like tobacco use, heavy alcohol consumption, or a history of oral cancer, we may recommend more frequent visits.
Good news for our neighbors in Bryn Mawr, Villanova, Haverford, Wayne, Radnor, Newtown Square, Berwyn, and Devon: we’re conveniently located right at 19 Morris Ave, in front of the Bryn Mawr train station, with free onsite parking. So fitting a screening into your schedule is easy.
Take Two Minutes For Your Health
You don’t feel oral cancer coming. You can’t spot it yourself in the mirror, not always. That’s why you come to us. It’s quick. It’s gentle. And it could be the most important two minutes of your checkup.
Ready to book your next visit? Call us at (610) 525-4910 or schedule an appointment online. Your smile is a reflection of our care. And your health is too.