Oral Cancer Screening

As part of your regular dental check up at Bite Dental Studios, your dentist will perform the following non-invasive checks, which usually take just minutes to carry out:

• Check your face neck, lips and mouth for any obvious abnormalities or subtle signs
• Feel for any lumps underneath your jaw, in your neck, or in the floor of your mouth
• Check your lips, cheeks and tongue for discolouration, sores or swelling
• Check the roof and floor of your mouth
• Check the back of your throat

If any abnormalities are suspected, your dentist will usually recommend a biopsy, or refer you to a specialist.

Signs of oral cancer – things to be alert for

Some of the early signs of oral cancer can include:

• Lumps or thickened areas in the cheek
• A mouth sore or lesion that does not heal within two weeks
• Discoloured (white or red) patches inside your mouth
• Difficulty chewing, swallowing or moving your tongue
• Numbness in your mouth or tongue
• Chronic sore throat, hoarseness or feeling like something is stuck in your throat
• Swelling of the jaw or dentures that suddenly don’t fit or suddenly become uncomfortable.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is recommended that you speak with your Bite Dental dentist and book in for an examination.