Mouth cancer screening with your dentist is invaluable for checking over your mouth for potential signs of the disease and receiving any necessary and potentially lifesaving treatment.

The compassionate team here at Welling Dental Studio are thorough in their approach and ready to answer and acknowledge any questions or worries you have surrounding the “big C”.

Mouth cancer screening: at a glance

• Carried out as part of your routine dentist check-up.
• Performed by one of our experienced and caring clinical team members.
• Early detection maximises the possibility of straightforward treatment.
• Peace of mind that any problems are found early.
• Maintain a healthy mouth.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of symptoms does my dentist look for?

Your dentist here in Kent will look for the following symptoms when they examine your mouth during a check-up. Whilst these can be indicators that cancer is present, it’s also possible that they are benign.

• White or red patches on the soft tissues in your mouth.
• Jaw stiffness and pain.
• Lumps in your mouth or around the jaw area.
• Sores that have not healed after a couple of weeks.
• Changes in the tone of your voice.

We would strongly urge you to come and see us if you’ve noticed any of the above, even if you’re in two minds. When it comes to your health, being extra cautious is a great mindset to have.

Do I need to attend more regularly if I have high-risk factors?

We would strongly advise more regular check-ups if you have risk factors that render you more vulnerable to mouth cancer. Smoking, alcohol, a poor diet and the HPV virus all increase the possibility of mouth cancer. However, the good news is that according to the NHS, if diagnosed early, a full recovery can be possible in up to 9 out of 10 cases, using surgery alone.

What happens if I have symptoms?

The most likely outcome is that the symptoms listed above are not evidence of mouth cancer. Nevertheless, as medical professionals, it’s our duty to investigate these, no matter how minute they might be.

We may refer you for a biopsy, so we can learn a little more about that particular symptom, or rule out any serious conditions.