An Aspen Dental team member in navy scrubs smiles and gently places a hand on a patient’s shoulder while the patient sits in a dental chair, creating a calm and reassuring moment before treatment.

Oral cancer screening, made easy

At Aspen Dental, oral cancer screening is part of your routine dental exam. It’s a quick, gentle check of your mouth and throat tissues that can help catch concerns early.


Key takeaways:


  • Helps catch concerns early

  • The screening is quick, gentle and noninvasive

  • Your care team checks mouth and throat tissues

  • It’s included in routine dental visits

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What is an oral cancer screening?

A quick exam that checks your mouth and throat for early signs of oral cancer or precancerous changes. Your dentist looks at your lips, cheeks, gums, tongue, palate, and throat and may feel your jaw and neck for lumps or swelling. Because oral cancer often develops silently—with no noticeable symptoms until late stages—screening during regular dental checkups plays a crucial role in early detection.

Importance of an oral cancer screening

Early detection helps you take action sooner—with a simple check during your exam.

Early prevention

  • Catch unusual changes early

  • Flag pre-cancer signs sooner

  • Act before symptoms show

Easy and convienient

  • An easy check during your exam

  • Gentle and noninvasive

  • Usually quick results

Better long-term health

  • Support whole-body health

  • Stay proactive if you’re higher risk

  • Track changes over time

Symptoms and early warning signs of oral cancer 

Oral cancer can appear in many forms, often resembling common mouth conditions.
If any of the below common symptoms occur for 2 or more weeks, consult your doctor:

Visible changes

  • Sore that won’t heal in 2 weeks

  • Red or white patch

  • Lump, thickened area, or rough spot

Sensation and function

  • Trouble chewing or swallowing

  • Jaw stiffness

  • Numbness (mouth, face or neck)

Ongoing signs

  • Sore throat that won’t go away

  • Hoarseness

  • Ear pain without infection

Cost of an oral cancer screening

At Aspen Dental, an oral cancer screening is included in your comprehensive dental exam. Your total cost can vary based on your visit and whether any follow-up testing is needed. Many insurance plans cover screenings as preventive care. Aspen Dental accepts most insurance. Please note, we do not accept Medicaid. If you need help with out-of-pocket costs, ask your Aspen Dental care team about financing and payment options.

What to expect during oral cancer screenings

At Aspen Dental, an oral cancer screening can be included in an comprehensive exam, but if you don't need one it won't be included, so it depends on the case. It’s a quick, gentle check—and we’ll talk you through what we’re looking for, every step of the way.

Your dentist will check your mouth and throat for anything that looks unusual.

If needed, we use a specialized tool to highlight tissue changes that may need a closer look.

Your dentist will explain what we’re seeing and answer questions as we go.

You’ll leave with clear results and next steps, if any.

An Aspen Dental team member sits with a patient reviewing information on a tablet in a comfortable office setting, representing an oral cancer screening consultation and patient education.

Who needs an oral cancer screening?

Screening is recommended for all adults and it’s especially important if you’re higher risk.


You may be at a higher risk if you:


  • Use tobacco

  • Drink heavily

  • Have HPV (especially HPV-16)

  • Get frequent sun exposure (lip risk)

  • Are 45+

  • Have a weakened immune system

  • Have chronic irritation

  • Have a family history of oral cancer

When do you get your oral cancer screening results?

At Aspen Dental, we’ll review your results with you before you leave. If we notice something unusual, it doesn’t automatically mean cancer. Common issues like irritation, infection or benign growths can look concerning at first but may not be serious. We’ll explain what we see, answer your questions and share clear next steps.

What happens if something  abnormal is found?

An abnormal finding isn’t always cause for concern. Many spots are caused by irritation, infection, allergies or trauma. If we see something that needs a closer look, we’ll guide you step by step.

We’ll explain what we found, what it could mean, and what we recommend next.

Some areas just need a re-check. If needed, we’ll refer you for a closer evaluation.

You’ll get clear guidance and follow-up, so you’re never guessing about next steps.

Oral cancer screening FAQs

We’ll review what we see with you during your visit:


  • If everything looks normal: We’ll confirm that nothing appears concerning.

  • If something looks unusual: We’ll explain what it is, what it could mean and what we recommend next.


If follow-up is needed, that may include monitoring, imaging or a referral for a biopsy.

Yes. At Aspen Dental, an oral cancer screening is included in your comprehensive exam.

No preparation is needed. Just come to your appointment as you normally would.

It usually takes just a few minutes. It’s done as part of your routine exam.

Yes. Smoking increases risk, but it’s not the only factor. HPV, alcohol use, age, sun exposure (lip risk) and family history can also play a role.

Screening doesn’t prevent cancer, but it can help catch changes early. To lower risk, avoid tobacco, limit alcohol and protect your lips from the sun.

We look for changes that don’t seem normal, such as:


  • Sores that don’t heal

  • Lumps or thickened areas

  • Red or white patches

  • Unusual bleeding or tenderness


We also check areas like your tongue, gums, cheeks, throat, lips and may feel your jaw and neck.

Many dental insurance plans cover oral cancer screenings as part of preventive care during routine exams. Coverage can vary, so it’s best to check with your provider.

Oral cancer screening is non-invasive and is generally considered not painful. The exam involves looking at oral tissues and gently feeling the throat, neck and jawline.

There are:

  • No needles

  • No discomfort

Most adults get screened once a year during a routine exam. If you’re higher risk or you’ve had an abnormal finding before, your dentist at Aspen Dental may recommend screening more often.

Find your local Aspen Dental office to schedule a comprehensive exam (which includes an oral cancer screening).