Oral Cancer Screenings

Oral Cancer Screenings

An oral cancer screening is a quick, painless check of your lips, cheeks, tongue, gums, and throat for tissue changes that could signal early disease. Because these changes are often painless and easy to miss on your own, many dentists include a screening as part of routine checkups. At Salm Dental, Dr. Adam Salm, DMD performs this exam as part of comprehensive care in our New York office.

What the Screening Involves

• Visual & Physical Exam — Dr. Salm looks and gently feels for unusual patches, sores, lumps, or texture changes in the soft tissues of the mouth and throat.
• Fluorescent Cancer Screening — A fluorescent light exam helps highlight tissue changes that can be harder to catch under normal light alone.
• Intraoral Camera — A tiny camera lets you see exactly what Dr. Salm sees on the exam room screen, so any area of concern is easy to discuss together.

When to Have a Screening

Screenings are typically included as part of a periodic or comprehensive exam, so most patients don't need to schedule one separately. If you notice a sore that hasn't healed, a persistent white or red patch, or a change in how your mouth feels, it's reasonable to mention it at your next visit or reach out sooner.

Follow-Up Care

If Dr. Salm identifies something that warrants a closer look, he'll talk through what was observed and what reasonable next steps look like, so you always understand the reasoning behind any recommendation.