Oral Cancer Screening

An oral cancer screening is a careful visual and physical examination of the soft tissues in and around your mouth. We look at your lips, the inside of your cheeks, the roof and floor of your mouth, the top, sides and underside of your tongue, your gums, and the back of your throat. We also feel along your jaw and neck for lumps, firmness or swelling in the lymph nodes, and we check for areas that feel rough, thickened or tethered rather than soft and mobile.

What we are looking for are soft tissue changes that do not belong: white or red patches, sores that have not healed, persistent rough spots, unexplained bleeding, numbness, or a lump you may not have noticed because it does not hurt. We also ask about symptoms you might not think to mention, such as ongoing hoarseness, a feeling that something is caught in your throat, or trouble swallowing or moving your tongue.

One detail that matters here: our team includes Dr. Sophia Elmuradi, a general dentist who is also a board-certified oral and maxillofacial pathologist. Oral pathology is the field devoted specifically to diseases of the mouth and jaws, so questions about an unusual lesion or a spot that needs a closer look can be discussed in-house rather than sending you elsewhere to start the conversation.

Screening is appropriate for essentially every adult, and we incorporate it into routine exams as a normal part of preventive care rather than treating it as a separate event. That said, some people have more reason to pay attention. Tobacco use of any kind, heavy alcohol use, significant sun exposure affecting the lips, a personal or family history of cancer, and simply getting older all raise the importance of consistent checks. Patients who wear dentures or partials also benefit, because an appliance can cover tissue that otherwise goes unexamined at home.

Here is what is useful to know before your visit:

• The screening is painless, takes only a few minutes, and requires no numbing, no needles and no special preparation.
• You can eat, drink and go back to work immediately afterward.
• Denture and partial wearers should bring their appliances so we can check the tissue underneath and the fit of the appliance itself.
• Tell us about any sore, lump or patch you have noticed, including how long it has been there and whether it has changed.
• Let us know about tobacco or alcohol use and any history of cancer, since that shapes how closely we monitor certain areas.

We see families, children from age one through the teen years, and adults of every age, so this conversation looks different depending on who is in the chair. With younger patients, the soft tissue exam is mostly about healthy development and habits. With older adults, it leans more toward monitoring.

Cost, Insurance and Getting Started

Screening is part of a routine dental exam, and we accept all major PPO plans and offer a complimentary insurance benefits check so you know your coverage before treatment. For patients without insurance, our in-house membership plan is $199 a year for adults and $99 for ages 17 and under, covering exams, X-rays, two cleanings and two fluoride treatments at 100%, with 20% to 50% off other treatment — no deductibles, no annual maximum and no waiting period.

We also accept self-pay patients, cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard and American Express, and offer CareCredit financing. Consultations are complimentary, and se habla español. If you are in Woodhaven, Trenton, Riverview or Flat Rock and it has been a while since your last exam, call us at 22500 Allen Rd. and we will get you scheduled.