Oral Cancer Screenings in Raleigh, NC
Annual oral cancer screenings at Bright Smile Dental in Raleigh take under five minutes and can detect tissue changes long before symptoms like pain or swelling develop.
- Painless 5-minute exam
- Included in checkups
- Velscope technology used
What Is Oral Cancer Screenings?
An oral cancer screening is a visual and tactile examination of the lips, tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, palate, and throat tissues to identify abnormal cells or lesions at their earliest stage.
Why Choose Bright Smile Dental for Oral Cancer Screenings
Why Choose Us
Bright Smile Dental incorporates VELscope fluorescence technology alongside the standard visual exam, which illuminates tissue abnormalities invisible to the naked eye, giving Raleigh patients a more comprehensive screening in every checkup.
Common Oral Cancer Screenings Scenarios
Annual Checkup Add-On
Screening is performed as part of every comprehensive exam so no additional appointment or out-of-pocket cost is required for most patients.
Tobacco and Alcohol Users
Patients who smoke, use chewing tobacco, or drink alcohol regularly face significantly higher risk and benefit from more frequent screenings.
Persistent Mouth Sore
Any sore, patch, or lump that has not healed within two weeks should be evaluated immediately, regardless of when your last cleaning was.
Our Oral Cancer Screenings Process
Visual Tissue Inspection
The dentist examines all soft tissue surfaces under bright operatory lighting, looking for red patches, white patches, ulcerations, or asymmetrical growths.
Manual Palpation
The tongue, floor of the mouth, and jaw lymph nodes are pressed gently to detect any hardness, swelling, or tenderness that is not visible on the surface.
VELscope Fluorescence Exam
A handheld blue light device illuminates tissue under fluorescence, causing healthy cells to glow green while abnormal cells appear dark and distinct.
Documentation and Next Steps
Findings are recorded in your chart. Any suspicious area is monitored over two weeks or referred immediately to an oral surgeon for biopsy.
Oral Cancer Screenings - Frequently Asked Questions
Once a year is the minimum recommendation for all adults. Patients who use tobacco, consume alcohol frequently, or have had a prior oral cancer diagnosis should be screened every six months at minimum.
There is no discomfort involved. The visual exam requires only that you open your mouth and move your tongue on request. The VELscope exam involves a bright light but no physical contact beyond what a standard dental exam includes.
We will either monitor the area for two weeks to see if it resolves, or refer you directly to an oral surgeon for a biopsy depending on the appearance and location of the tissue change. Early referrals save lives.
Yes. HPV-16 is now the leading cause of oropharyngeal cancers in the United States, surpassing tobacco as a primary risk factor. This makes routine oral cancer screening important for nonsmokers and younger adults as well.
SERVICE AREAS
Oral Cancer Screenings Near You
Bright Smile Dental provides oral cancer screenings throughout Raleigh and surrounding communities.
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