Oral Cancer Screening in Scarborough

There's typically no separate charge, since the screening is included as part of your routine checkup rather than billed on its own. If your exam identifies something needing further testing or a specialist referral, those costs are discussed separately. You receive an exact written quote after your exam for any follow-up care.

No. It's built into every routine dental exam, so as long as you're keeping up with regular checkups, you're being screened without needing to ask or book anything extra. The check adds only a couple of minutes to your visit and covers your lips, cheeks, tongue, and neck. If you notice a sore or unusual patch between visits, though, don't wait — call and we'll take a look sooner.

We look for patches, sores that haven't healed, unusual colour changes, and lumps or firm areas in the mouth, jaw, or neck. Most findings during a screening turn out to be harmless, like a minor irritation from biting your cheek, but we check everything to be sure.

We'll talk you through exactly what we noticed and why it's worth a closer look. Depending on what it is, we might ask you to come back in a couple of weeks to see if it's healed on its own, or refer you to a specialist for further evaluation. We won't leave you guessing.

Tobacco and alcohol use are two of the more well-known risk factors, but oral cancer can occur in people who have never used either. Other factors, such as prolonged sun exposure on the lips, age, and family history, also play a role, and some cases have no obvious cause at all. That's part of why screening is done for every patient at every checkup, regardless of lifestyle or risk profile.

Our screening is a visual and physical exam performed by your dentist as part of your checkup. It doesn't require any special imaging or additional equipment, which is part of what makes it quick and easy to include in every visit.

Since it's part of your routine checkup, most patients are screened about every six months, or more often if you have specific risk factors or if we're monitoring something. If you notice a sore or patch that hasn't healed within two weeks, don't wait for your next scheduled visit — call us.

Absolutely. If you notice something unusual in your mouth or have a family history that concerns you, mention it when you book or as soon as you sit down in the chair. We'll take a focused look and talk through what we find.