Oral Cancer
Screening
A quick, painless check included in every routine exam — because early detection of oral cancer dramatically improves survival rates.
Screening
A quick, painless check included in every routine exam — because early detection of oral cancer dramatically improves survival rates.
Why Screening
Saves Lives
Oral cancer is among the most treatable cancers when caught early — the 5-year survival rate jumps from roughly 20% when diagnosed late to over 80% with early detection. The problem is that most people don't know they have it until it has already spread to surrounding tissue or lymph nodes.
Our screening is included in every routine exam at no extra charge. It is quick. It is completely painless. And it is the most straightforward cancer-prevention step we can take together at each appointment. You shouldn't have to make a separate trip or pay extra to have this check done.
Known Risk Factors
- Tobacco use (smoking or smokeless)
- Heavy alcohol consumption
- HPV infection (particularly HPV-16)
- Prolonged sun exposure (lip cancer)
- Family history of oral cancer
- Age 40+
A Check That
Costs You Nothing
Included in Every Exam
No extra appointment, no added fee. Screening is done as part of your regular check-up — it costs you nothing and could change everything.
Completely Painless
We visually examine your lips, gums, tongue, cheeks, floor of mouth, and throat. There's no probing, no discomfort — most patients don't even notice it's happening.
Catches Early Stage
Oral cancer detected at Stage I or II carries an 80%+ survival rate. Caught at Stage IV, that drops below 30%. Early detection is the single biggest factor in outcomes.
Peace of Mind
Knowing you're clear — or catching something early — is genuinely invaluable. Most findings are benign, but the ones that aren't are the ones you'd want to catch now.
A Small Step
We Never Skip
Oral cancer screening doesn't get its own appointment because it doesn't need one. It's built into every routine exam at Edgemont Dental: a quick, painless check that costs nothing extra and can catch problems years before symptoms would.
It's a small habit that reflects how we practice generally: thorough without making a production of it. Southwest Edmonton patients come in for routine care and leave with the reassurance that comes from someone actually looking closely.
What We Do
During Your Exam
01
Visual Inspection
We systematically examine all soft tissues in and around your mouth — lips, gums, tongue (top and underside), cheeks, palate, and throat — for unusual patches, sores, asymmetry, or colour changes.
02
Manual Palpation
A gentle check of your neck, jaw, and salivary glands for swollen lymph nodes or any unusual masses. Takes under a minute and is completely comfortable.
03
Findings Review
Any concerns are discussed clearly and honestly. The vast majority of findings are benign — minor irritation, canker sores, or normal anatomical variation. We monitor or refer as appropriate.
04
Annual Monitoring
We photograph and document all findings and compare year-over-year. Tracking changes over time is one of the most important tools for distinguishing a benign lesion from something that needs attention.
Common Questions
What are the early signs of oral cancer?
The most common warning signs are sores that don't heal after two weeks, red or white patches on soft tissue, unexplained numbness or pain, difficulty swallowing or chewing, hoarseness that persists, and a lump or thickening anywhere in your mouth, throat, or neck. Most of these symptoms are harmless — but any that persist beyond two weeks deserve a professional look.
Does smoking really increase my risk?
Significantly. Tobacco use — both smoked and smokeless — is the single largest risk factor for oral cancer. When combined with heavy alcohol use, the risk multiplies rather than simply adds. HPV infection (particularly HPV-16) is now a major driver of oropharyngeal cancers in people who don't smoke. Quitting tobacco at any age substantially reduces your long-term risk.
What happens if something is found?
We document it carefully, photograph it, and explain exactly what we observed. Many findings simply need monitoring — we'll ask you to come back in two to four weeks to see if it resolves on its own. If a lesion is persistent or has features that concern us, we'll refer you promptly to an oral medicine specialist or oral surgeon for a biopsy. Most findings are harmless, but we take no chances.
Screening That Could Save Your Life
Included with every check-up at Edgemont Dental. Book your appointment today.