Information on Oral Cancer Screening
Overview: The goal of oral cancer screening is to identify mouth cancer early, when there is a greater chance for a cure. Most dentists perform an examination of your mouth during a routine dental visit to screen for oral cancer.
Why it's done No studies have proved that oral cancer screening saves lives, so not all organizations agree about the benefits of an oral exam for oral cancer screening. Some groups recommend screening, while others don't. People with a high risk of oral cancer may be more likely to benefit from oral cancer screening, though studies haven't clearly proved that.
Factors: Factors that can increase the risk of oral cancer include: ď Ź Tobacco use of any kind, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco and snuff, among others ď Ź Heavy alcohol use