What does an oral cancer screening at the dentist involve?
An oral cancer screening is a visual and hands-on check of the lips, gums, cheeks, tongue (including its sides and underside), the floor and roof of the mouth, the visible throat and the glands of the neck and jaw. The dentist looks for ulcers that are not healing, red or white patches and lumps. At Creative Arts in Dubai it is part of every check-up, and anything unusual is reviewed or referred promptly.
Who treats you here Dr. Duaa Ameen General Dentist · Dr. Julia General Dentist · Dr. Marina Antoniuk Dentist
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Why does a dentist check for mouth cancer?
Mouth cancer usually starts on the surface lining of the mouth, often as a small patch, ulcer or thickening that does not hurt at first. Because it often causes no pain early on, it is easy to ignore, and many people only look inside their mouth when something already hurts. A dentist, by contrast, looks at the soft tissues under good light at every examination, so changes can be noticed while they are small.
The aim of screening is not to diagnose cancer in the chair. No dentist can tell by looking whether a patch is harmless or not; only a biopsy, a small tissue sample examined in a laboratory, can do that. The aim is to notice anything that does not belong, decide whether it has an obvious and harmless cause, and make sure it is either watched or investigated rather than forgotten.
Most things found this way turn out to be harmless: a bite mark, an ulcer from a sharp tooth, a cold sore or a patch from a rubbing appliance. Our page on mouth ulcers covers those common causes.
What does the dentist check during an oral cancer screening?
The check follows a set order so that no area is missed. It usually takes a few minutes within the examination.
| Area | What the dentist does | What they look or feel for |
|---|---|---|
| Face, lips and neck | Looks at the face and lips, then feels under the jaw and along both sides of the neck | Swelling, asymmetry, lumps or enlarged glands, sores on the lips |
| Inside of the lips and cheeks | Gently pulls the lips and cheeks away from the teeth | Patches, ulcers, thickened areas, areas rubbed by teeth or appliances |
| Gums and the area under dentures or retainers | Looks at the gum around every tooth and under any removable appliance | Sores, overgrowth or patches that are not explained by gum disease |
| Tongue: top, sides and underside | Holds the tip of the tongue with gauze and moves it side to side | The sides and underside are common sites for changes, so they are checked closely |
| Floor of the mouth | Looks under the tongue and may feel with one finger inside and one outside | Lumps, patches or areas of firmness |
| Roof of the mouth and throat | Looks at the hard and soft palate and the visible back of the throat | Red or white areas, ulcers, swelling or asymmetry of the tonsil area |
If something is seen, the dentist records where it is and how big it is, often with a photograph, so any change can be judged at review.
What are the warning signs of mouth cancer?
The NHS lists the following as possible symptoms of mouth cancer. They are common and usually have other causes, but each one deserves a check rather than waiting to see:
- A mouth ulcer that lasts more than three weeks. Ordinary ulcers usually heal within one to two weeks.
- A red patch or a white patch inside the mouth that does not rub off. White patches are sometimes called leukoplakia and red patches erythroplakia; both describe what is seen, not a diagnosis.
- A lump or thickening inside the mouth or on the lip.
- Pain inside the mouth that does not go away.
- Difficulty swallowing or speaking, or a hoarse voice that does not go away.
- A lump in the neck or throat.
- Weight loss without trying.
Dentists also take note of a tooth becoming loose for no clear reason, an area of numbness in the lip or tongue, or a denture or retainer that suddenly no longer fits. On their own these usually have dental explanations, but they are part of the picture.
Normal mouth sore or something to get checked?
A rough guide to help you decide whether to wait or book. It is not a diagnosis.
| What you notice | Usually harmless if | Get it checked if |
|---|---|---|
| An ulcer | It has an obvious cause, such as a bite or a sharp food, is painful and heals within one to two weeks | It has not healed after about two weeks, has no obvious cause, or keeps returning in the same spot |
| A white area | It wipes off, or appeared after a burn or a rubbing appliance and fades once the cause is removed | It does not wipe off, feels rough or thick, or is on the side or underside of the tongue or the floor of the mouth |
| A red area | It is a recent burn or irritation that settles within days | It is velvety, persists, or is mixed with white areas |
| A lump | It is a small, soft bump from a bite that shrinks again | It is firm, growing, fixed in place, or in the neck |
| Numbness or a change in voice or swallowing | It follows a dental injection or a cold and passes quickly | It persists without an obvious reason |
NHS advice is to see a dentist or GP for an ulcer lasting more than three weeks. If you are unsure, it is reasonable to book earlier.
Who is more at risk of oral cancer?
Anyone can develop mouth cancer, so the soft-tissue check is part of every examination regardless of age or habits. Some factors raise the risk, and several of them are common in the UAE:
- Tobacco in any form. The WHO names tobacco, alcohol and areca nut use among the main causes of oral cancer. That includes cigarettes, shisha, dokha smoked in a medwakh and chewed or dipped tobacco, which keeps tobacco in direct contact with one area of the mouth.
- Areca nut and betel quid (paan, supari), chewed with or without tobacco.
- Alcohol, especially combined with smoking, which multiplies the effect.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV). The WHO notes that HPV infection is responsible for a growing share of oral cancers among young people in North America and Europe, mostly towards the back of the mouth and throat.
- Sun on the lips, a risk for lip cancer in people who spend long hours outdoors without lip protection.
- A previous mouth cancer or a weakened immune system.
If any of these apply to you, tell your dentist. It does not change what is checked, but it helps decide how closely to watch a patch, and your dentist can talk through support for stopping tobacco. Our guide to smoking, shisha and vaping covers the other effects on teeth and gums.
A soft-tissue screening is part of every dental check-up at Creative Arts, along with teeth, gums and bite. If you have noticed a patch or an ulcer that will not heal, tell us when you book.
See what a check-up includesWhat happens if the dentist finds something?
Finding something unusual does not mean cancer. What happens next depends on what is seen:
- An obvious cause. If an ulcer sits next to a sharp tooth, a broken filling or a rubbing brace wire, the cause is removed first: the edge smoothed, the filling repaired or the wire covered or adjusted. The area is then reviewed, usually after about two weeks, to confirm it has healed.
- No obvious cause, low concern. The area is measured and photographed and a short review appointment is booked. A lesion that has gone by then needs nothing more.
- Anything persistent or suspicious. You are referred promptly for assessment and a biopsy by an appropriate specialist service. A biopsy is the only way to know what a patch or ulcer is, and it is usually a quick procedure under local anaesthetic.
You will be told what was seen, why it is being watched or referred, and what to do if it changes before the review. If you are unhappy waiting, it is always reasonable to ask for an earlier review or a second opinion.
How can you check your own mouth between visits?
A self-check once a month takes two minutes and helps you notice changes early. Use a mirror in good light, remove any denture or retainer, and look at:
- the lips and the inside of the lips, pulled forwards;
- both cheeks, pulled outwards with a finger;
- the gums all the way round;
- the tongue: stick it out, then move it to each side, then lift the tip to the roof of the mouth to see underneath;
- the floor of the mouth and the roof of the mouth;
- both sides of the neck, feeling gently for lumps.
Look for anything that is new, that is different on one side compared with the other, or that has not gone after two to three weeks. If you find something, book a check rather than waiting for your routine visit. The clinic is open daily from 10:00 to 20:00. Sudden swelling of the face or neck with difficulty breathing or swallowing needs a hospital emergency department straight away.
Regular dental check-ups remain the main safeguard, because some areas, such as the back of the tongue and the floor of the mouth, are hard to see properly yourself. If you have not been to a dentist for some time, our guide to teeth cleaning after years away explains what a first visit back involves.