early detection is the difference between a simple treatment and a life-threatening diagnosis
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO OPT IN FOR SCREENING?
Oral cancer is often painless in its earliest stages — there may be no discomfort, no obvious sore, and no reason to suspect anything is wrong.
By the time symptoms become noticeable enough to prompt a visit to a doctor, the cancer has frequently advanced to a later stage. A dental check-up is often the only regular appointment where the inside of the mouth is systematically examined — making your dentist the frontline of early oral cancer detection
Know your risk factors — but screening matters for everyone
Tobacco use
Smoking and smokeless tobacco are the strongest risk factors. Tobacco users are 6× more likely to develop oral cancer than non-users.
Heavy alcohol use
Heavy drinkers face 6× the risk of non-drinkers. Combined tobacco and alcohol use multiplies risk by up to 30 times.
HPV infection (type 16)
HPV-16 is now the leading cause of oropharyngeal cancer — surpassing tobacco in many demographics. Young non-smokers are an increasingly affected group.
Sun exposure
UV radiation increases lip cancer risk significantly — particularly the lower lip. Outdoor workers and those without SPF lip protection are at higher risk.
Age over 45
Risk increases with age. Most diagnoses occur in patients over 55, though HPV-related cancers are shifting the age distribution younger.
Male sex
Men are twice as likely to develop oral cancer as women, though rates in women are rising. Lifetime risk for men is approximately 1 in 60.
See us promptly if you notice any of these lasting more than two weeks
- A sore in the mouth that doesn't heal
- White or red patch on the gums, tongue, or cheek lining
- Unexplained bleeding in the mouth
- Persistent lump or thickening in the cheek
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or moving the jaw or tongue
- Numbness, pain, or tenderness anywhere in the mouth or lips
- Feeling of something caught in the throat
- Unexplained hoarseness or change in voice lasting weeks
You don't need to have risk factors to request a screening
25% of oral cancers occur in patients with no tobacco use, no heavy alcohol use, and no other identified risk factors. Oral cancer screening is recommended for every adult over 18 at every dental check-up — regardless of lifestyle. If you have a specific concern between check-ups, call us and we’ll see you promptly
What to expect
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Visual examination of all oral tissues Dr. Sadineni uses a bright light and dental mirror to systematically inspect every surface — lips, cheeks, gums, tongue (top, sides, underside), palate, and floor of the mouth. You may be asked to say "ahh," stick out your tongue, and turn it from side to side.
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Physical palpation of soft tissues and neck The floor of the mouth and the sides of the tongue are gently felt with gloved fingers to detect any firmness or masses beneath the surface that aren't visible. The neck lymph nodes are also palpated externally.
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Findings reviewed with you If everything looks normal, Dr. Sadineni confirms this clearly. If anything warrants a closer look — an unexplained sore, white patch, or asymmetry — she explains what she found, what it might mean, and whether a referral for biopsy or specialist review is appropriate.