Oral cancer is one of the most treatable cancers when caught early — but it’s often discovered late because the early signs are subtle and painless. Regular screenings are especially important for adults over 40, current or former smokers, heavy drinkers, those with HPV exposure, and anyone with a family history of head or neck cancers.

What we look for

During your screening, we examine your mouth, lips, tongue, cheeks, throat, and the lymph nodes in your neck. We’re looking for:

• Lesions that haven’t healed within two weeks
• Unusual sores, patches, or lumps
• Red or white patches in the mouth or throat
• Changes in tissue color, texture, or thickness
• Swollen lymph nodes or unusual tenderness

Included in every visit

Oral cancer screenings are never an add-on or extra charge at POM. They’re a core part of every cleaning because prevention means catching problems early, before they become something larger. If we see something we want to monitor or that warrants further evaluation, we’ll discuss it openly and provide a referral to the appropriate specialist.