Oral Cancer Screening
A two-minute, painless exam that's quietly the most important part of your visit — and it's included in every check-up.
Caught early, oral cancer has an 80–90% survival rate.
Oral and oropharyngeal cancer kills more Canadians every year than melanoma or cervical cancer combined, and most cases are caught late — when the prognosis drops sharply. The good news: when it's found in stage one, the five-year survival rate is over 80%.
An oral cancer screening takes about two minutes, costs you nothing extra, and looks at exactly the places dentists are trained to examine: the lips, tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, palate, throat and lymph nodes of the neck. We do this at every recall visit for every adult patient.
Risk factors include tobacco use (any form), heavy alcohol use, HPV exposure, prolonged sun exposure (for lip cancer), and being over 40 — but a significant minority of cases occur in people with none of these. That's why universal screening matters.
Your screening visit
Visual exam
We look carefully at the lips, gums, cheeks, tongue (top, bottom, sides), floor of the mouth, palate and throat under good lighting.
Manual exam
Using gloved fingers, we gently feel for any lumps or thickenings in the cheeks, jaw, and neck — areas you can't see in the mirror.
Risk review
We ask a few quick questions about lifestyle and family history to make sure we're not missing anything specific to you.
Next steps if needed
If we find something worth watching, we'll either monitor it at a short follow-up or refer you for a biopsy — fast, no waiting, no panic.
The Lac La Biche Smiles difference.
Included free at every recall exam
Trained eyes that catch what self-exams miss
Fast referral to specialists if anything looks off
No extra appointment needed — it's part of your check-up
Your questions, answered.
Does the screening hurt?
Not at all. It's a visual look and a gentle feel of the cheeks and neck. The whole thing takes about two minutes.
I don't smoke. Do I still need it?
Yes. About 25% of oral cancers occur in people with no traditional risk factors. HPV-linked oropharyngeal cancers, in particular, are rising among non-smokers.
What if you find something?
Most findings are not cancer. We may simply re-check it in 2–3 weeks. If anything is suspicious, we refer you to an oral surgeon or ENT for biopsy — and we help coordinate that quickly.
How often should I be screened?
Every six months at your recall visit. Between visits, watch for sores that don't heal in two weeks, persistent hoarseness, or lumps in the neck — and call us right away.
Ready to book your visit?
Same-day appointments, direct insurance billing, and a friendly team that puts you at ease. We can't wait to meet you.