Home > Services > General & Preventive Dentistry > Oral Cancer Screenings
A sore, color change, or lump in your mouth does not automatically mean cancer. But when something does not heal or simply does not seem right, it deserves a closer look. We check your lips, mouth, visible throat, jaw, and neck for changes that are easy to miss at home.
An oral cancer screening is a brief, noninvasive soft-tissue examination designed to catch unusual changes early. We help you address:
Finding | What We Explain | What Usually Happens Next |
|---|---|---|
Nothing Unusual | We did not observe concerning soft-tissue changes during the visit | Continue with your recommended preventive examination schedule |
Likely Irritation Source | A rough tooth, bite, or appliance could be contributing | Address the source and recheck the tissue after an appropriate interval |
Prompt Investigation Needed | The area requires specialized diagnostic evaluation | Refer you to an appropriate provider for further testing, including a biopsy |
We ask if you have noticed any sores, lumps, color changes, swallowing difficulties, or pain since your last visit.
We carefully examine all soft tissues in your mouth and gently feel around your jaw and neck for swelling or firmness.
When Dr. Mohammad Hammoud took over this Michigan Avenue practice, he integrated comprehensive soft-tissue screening into routine preventive visits to protect the health of our Dearborn community. Oral cancer screenings provide vital early detection. At 313 Dental, we evaluate soft tissues with meticulous care and communicate our findings with complete honesty and transparency.
Being mindful of your oral soft tissues between dental visits helps ensure early detection of any changes:
No. A screening helps us identify an area that needs further evaluation, but it cannot confirm or rule out cancer. A biopsy is often needed to determine exactly what the tissue is.
No. Irritation, infection, injury, and other noncancerous conditions can cause sores, color changes, or lumps. We will examine the area and explain whether it should be rechecked or evaluated further.
It is usually comfortable. We look at the tissues and gently feel inside your mouth and around your jaw and neck. A spot that is already sore or inflamed can feel tender, so tell us if anything is uncomfortable.
Yes. Tobacco use raises the risk, but oral and oropharyngeal cancers also occur in people who have never used tobacco. Alcohol, HPV, age, sun exposure to the lips, and other factors can affect risk.
If you are due for an examination or have noticed a change in your mouth, lips, or neck that is not going away, contact our Dearborn team today.
Reviewed by Dr. Mohammad Hammoud, DMD – 313 Dental, Dearborn, MI
