Oral cancer screening is a clinical examination of the mouth, throat and surrounding tissues for changes that may need monitoring, further assessment or referral. Screening does not diagnose cancer by itself. Its purpose is to identify findings that should not simply be left, and to make sure the ones that matter are followed up rather than noticed a year later.
The examination is quick, painless and requires no preparation. Your clinician looks systematically at the lips, the inside of the cheeks, the gums, the roof and floor of the mouth, the tongue including its underside and both borders, and the visible part of the throat, then feels the tissues of the neck, under the jaw and around the salivary glands for anything firm or asymmetrical. Ill-fitting dentures are removed so the tissue underneath can be seen. The value of the examination lies in its being done the same way each time, so that a change from one visit to the next is noticed rather than reinterpreted.
The findings that attract attention are a sore or ulcer that has not healed within about three weeks, a white or red patch that cannot be wiped away, a lump or thickening in the cheek, tongue, or neck, persistent numbness or unexplained bleeding, difficulty or discomfort on swallowing, a persistent hoarse voice, or a change in how your teeth or denture fit together. Most such findings turn out to be something ordinary — trauma from a sharp tooth, a denture rubbing, an infection, or a reaction to a material. The point of screening is not to assume the worst; it is to make sure nothing persistent is dismissed without being followed.
The first step is usually to remove an obvious cause and review, often over a fortnight or so: a sharp edge is smoothed, a denture is adjusted, an infection is treated, and the tissue is re-examined. Many findings resolve at that point. A lesion that persists, or one that is suspicious at the outset, is not left on review — it is referred for specialist assessment and biopsy, which is the only way a diagnosis is actually made. Where referral is appropriate, we make it directly and give you a written account of what was found so nothing depends on recollection. You should never feel you are wasting anyone's time by asking about something that has not gone away.
A screening examination is appropriate for every adult as part of a routine dental check-up, and it takes only a few minutes. More frequent or more attentive screening is sensible for anyone who smokes or uses any form of smokeless tobacco, drinks heavily — particularly in combination with smoking — chews betel quid, areca nut, paan or gutka, has had significant sun exposure affecting the lower lip, has a previous history of oral or head-and-neck cancer, or has a known HPV-related risk. Risk factors are context for how closely to look, not a verdict, and the examination is the same either way.
An ulcer or sore that has not healed in three weeks, a white or red patch that will not rub away, a lump in the mouth or neck, ongoing numbness, unexplained bleeding, difficulty swallowing, or a hoarse voice that persists. Any of these is worth having looked at rather than waiting for your next routine visit.
If a sore, patch or lump has been there for three weeks or more, have it examined. Most turn out to be harmless, and the ones that are not are far better found early.
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A soft-tissue screening examination is normally carried out as part of a routine dental examination rather than billed as a separate procedure. Where a specific assessment, photography or review appointment is required, it is priced from the current BC general dentist fee guide and confirmed with you first.
For most patients the examination forms part of a routine visit and does not carry a separate charge.
Where a lesion needs to be documented, photographed and reviewed over a set interval, that appointment is quoted from the fee guide in advance.
A diagnosis is made by biopsy and specialist assessment, not by screening. Where referral is appropriate we make it directly, and any costs at that stage are set by the receiving specialist or covered as medical care.
Surgical procedures are more commonly covered by dental plans than elective treatment, though the proportion varies. We can provide a written treatment plan with procedure codes so you can confirm your own coverage before deciding, and patient financing is available.
Oral Surgery and Implants
Dr. Ali Mehdi brings over 15 years of experience in oral and implant surgery, with a focus on advanced implant dentistry and complex full-mouth rehabilitation. From routine oral surgery to advanced bone grafting and full-arch implant treatment, his approach combines surgical experience, digital technology, and individualized care.
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General Dentist │ MSc in Periodontics
General dentist with a Master of Science in Periodontics, prior Assistant Professor experience and clinical interests in periodontal treatment, implants and family dentistry.
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Dentist
Dentist with a Master's degree completed in Australia, focused on ethical, personalized care and helping patients make informed decisions about treatment.
View ProfileA systematic visual examination of the lips, cheeks, gums, palate, floor of the mouth, tongue and visible throat, followed by palpation of the neck and under the jaw. It is painless, takes only a few minutes and requires no preparation.
No. Screening identifies changes that need further assessment. A diagnosis is made only by biopsy and specialist assessment. Where a finding persists or appears suspicious, we refer directly rather than continue to monitor it.
For most adults, as part of each routine dental examination. More frequent attention is sensible for people who smoke or use smokeless tobacco, drink heavily, chew betel quid or areca nut, have had significant lower-lip sun exposure, or have a previous history of oral or head-and-neck cancer.
Most mouth ulcers heal within two weeks and most persistent ones turn out to have an ordinary cause such as a sharp tooth or a rubbing denture. An ulcer, sore or patch that has not healed after about three weeks should be examined rather than watched at home.
Where there is an obvious cause it is removed — a sharp edge smoothed, a denture adjusted, an infection treated — and the tissue is re-examined after a short interval. If the finding persists or looks suspicious from the outset, we refer for specialist assessment and biopsy and give you a written account of what was found.
Yes. Tobacco and alcohol are the best-recognised risk factors, but oral and oropharyngeal cancers also occur in people with neither, including in association with HPV. The examination is brief and forms part of a routine visit either way.
Because the examination usually forms part of a routine dental examination, it is generally handled within that visit. Where a separate assessment appointment is required, we confirm the fee-guide code with you in advance so you can check your own coverage.
Patients travel to us from White Rock, South Surrey, Surrey, Langley, Delta and across the Fraser Valley, and we accept surgical referrals from dentists throughout the Lower Mainland. Our team also speaks Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu.
Book an appointment at Apple Dental Specialists in White Rock. A screening examination takes a few minutes, and anything that needs following up is either reviewed on a set interval or referred directly for specialist assessment.