Oral Cancer Screening

As part of your routine dental examination, we include an oral cancer screening. Early detection is extremely important, and if anything unusual is identified, we will arrange a referral for further investigation where appropriate.

Why it matters

Mouth cancer is one of the fastest-rising cancers in the UK, with over 8,000 new cases diagnosed each year. When it’s caught early, outcomes are excellent — survival rates are well above 80%. When it’s caught late, they drop dramatically. A dentist is usually the first person to spot the early signs, which is why every routine exam at Spixworth Dental includes a quick oral cancer check.

What we look for

During your exam, your dentist will examine:

The inside of your cheeks and lips
The roof and floor of your mouth
Your tongue (top, sides and underneath)
The back of your throat and tonsils
Your neck and jaw for swollen lymph nodes

We’re looking for anything out of the ordinary — unusual red or white patches, persistent ulcers, lumps, thickening, or changes in texture. Most of what we find turns out to be harmless — but it’s always worth checking.

Risk factors

You’re at higher risk if you:

Smoke or use tobacco (including chewing tobacco)
Drink alcohol regularly (especially combined with smoking)
Have had HPV (human papillomavirus) infection
Have a family history of mouth or throat cancer
Spend a lot of time in strong sunlight (for lip cancer)

If any of these apply to you, please mention them — we can discuss them at your exam and, where useful, tailor how often we check.

Signs to watch for between visits

Please book an appointment if you notice any of the following lasting more than three weeks:

A mouth ulcer or sore that hasn’t healed
A red or white patch inside your mouth
Unexplained lumps in your mouth, head or neck
Persistent pain, numbness or difficulty swallowing
A noticeable change in the way your voice sounds

Three weeks is the key guideline — most normal mouth ulcers heal within two. Anything persisting longer deserves a proper look.

Referrals

If your dentist spots anything that warrants further investigation, we’ll refer you straight away — usually to a hospital-based oral and maxillofacial unit — under the NHS urgent referral pathway (two-week wait). The vast majority of referrals turn out to be nothing — but we’d always rather check than assume.

Oral cancer screening is included in every NHS and private examination at Spixworth Dental. If it’s been a while since your last check-up, now’s a good time.

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