Comprehensive Oral Cancer Screenings
Our oral cancer screenings are designed to detect signs of cancer or precancerous conditions early, when they are most treatable. During your screening, Dr. Singh will perform a thorough examination of your mouth, looking for any abnormalities or suspicious areas.
- Visual Examination: Dr. Singh will carefully inspect your lips, gums, tongue, inner cheeks, floor and roof of your mouth, and the back of your throat. He will look for any discoloration, sores, lumps, or other unusual signs.
- Palpation: Dr. Singh will gently feel the tissues in your mouth, neck, and jaw to detect any lumps or abnormalities that may not be visible during the visual examination.
- Advanced Screening Tools: In some cases, we may use advanced screening tools such as VELscope or other specialized devices that use light to detect changes in the tissues of your mouth that may indicate the presence of oral cancer.
Signs and Symptoms of Oral Cancer
While regular screenings are crucial, it’s also important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of oral cancer. If you notice any of the following, please contact our office for an evaluation:
- A sore that doesn’t heal or bleeds easily
- A lump or thickening in the mouth, neck, or throat
- Red or white patches in the mouth
- Persistent pain, tenderness, or numbness
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or speaking
- A change in your bite or the fit of your dentures
- Chronic sore throat or hoarseness
The Screening Process
Oral cancer screenings at Dental Partners of Creve Coeur are quick, painless, and non-invasive. Here’s what you can expect during your screening:
- Medical History Review: Dr. Singh will review your medical history, including any risk factors you may have for oral cancer. This helps us provide personalized care and address any specific concerns.
- Thorough Examination: Dr. Singh will perform a detailed visual and tactile examination of your oral cavity and surrounding tissues. He will use advanced screening tools if necessary to enhance the examination.
- Discussion and Next Steps: If Dr. Singh identifies any areas of concern, he will discuss the findings with you and recommend the appropriate next steps. This may include further diagnostic tests, a biopsy, or referral to a specialist for additional evaluation.
Preventive Care and Education
At Dental Partners of Creve Coeur, we believe in the power of preventive care and education. In addition to regular screenings, we provide guidance on reducing your risk of oral cancer. This includes tips on avoiding tobacco products, moderating alcohol consumption, protecting your lips from sun exposure, and maintaining good oral hygiene.
Supporting Your Health Journey
Our commitment to your health extends beyond your smile. We are here to support you in every aspect of your oral and overall health. By incorporating regular oral cancer screenings into your dental care routine, we aim to provide you with peace of mind and the best possible outcomes.
Schedule Your Oral Cancer Screening
Early detection saves lives. Don’t wait for symptoms to appear before seeking care. Regular oral cancer screenings are a vital part of your health maintenance. To schedule your oral cancer screening or to learn more about our preventive care services, please contact our office. Dr. Sartaj Singh and the team at Dental Partners of Creve Coeur are dedicated to providing you with comprehensive, compassionate care to help you achieve a healthy, confident life.
Frequently Asked Questions About Oral Cancer Screenings
What is an oral cancer screening and what does it involve?
An oral cancer screening is a quick, painless exam that Dr. Singh performs to check for any early signs of cancer or precancerous changes in and around your mouth, and it happens right during your regular dental visit. There are two parts to it. The first is a visual check where Dr. Singh looks carefully at the lips, gums, tongue, inner cheeks, the floor and roof of the mouth, and the back of the throat, looking for anything that seems out of the ordinary such as unusual patches, sores, or irregular tissue. The second part is a gentle palpation of the tissues in the mouth, jaw, and neck to feel for any lumps that might not be visible. In some cases, Dr. Singh will also use an advanced tool called VELscope, which uses a special light to detect tissue changes that are hard to spot with the naked eye. The whole thing takes just a few minutes and most patients barely notice it as a separate step in their exam.
Do children need oral cancer screenings too?
Oral cancer is far less common in children than in adults, but Dr. Singh does include a thorough soft tissue exam as part of every child’s regular dental visit. This means he’s always looking at the condition of the gums, tongue, cheeks, and surrounding tissues, even if a formal cancer screening carries less urgency for younger patients. For teenagers, particularly those who may be exposed to HPV, the conversation becomes more relevant. The most important thing parents can do is bring their children in for regular dental visits so that Dr. Singh has the opportunity to monitor their oral health consistently over time. If anything unusual is ever spotted, he’ll let you know right away and explain exactly what he’s seeing.
Should I be worried about oral cancer even if I don’t smoke or drink?
It’s a fair question, and the honest answer is that oral cancer does not exclusively affect people with obvious risk factors. Tobacco use, heavy alcohol consumption, HPV infection, and prolonged sun exposure to the lips are all known risk factors, but a meaningful number of oral cancer cases occur in people with none of those. That’s precisely why routine screenings matter for everyone, not just those in higher-risk categories. If you or your partner do have any of those risk factors, it’s worth mentioning to Dr. Singh so he can factor that into how closely he monitors things. But regardless of lifestyle, every adult in the family benefits from being screened consistently at their regular dental visits.
What warning signs should our family watch for between appointments?
This is one of the most practical things to be aware of, because you’re looking at your family’s mouths far more often than we are. The signs worth paying attention to include a sore, ulcer, or irritated spot that hasn’t healed after two weeks, red or white patches anywhere inside the mouth, a lump or thickening in the mouth, throat, or neck, and any persistent pain, tenderness, or numbness in the lips or mouth. Difficulty or discomfort when chewing, swallowing, or speaking is also worth noting. In adults, unexplained weight loss or a hoarse voice that lingers without an obvious reason can also be a signal. None of these symptoms automatically mean something serious is happening, but anything that persists for more than two weeks is a reason to call us at (314) 432-0960 rather than waiting for the next scheduled appointment.
How often does our family need oral cancer screenings?
For most adults, once a year is the standard, and since the screening is incorporated into a regular dental exam, it’s already happening when you come in for your routine visits. You don’t need to book a separate appointment for it. For adults with known risk factors such as a history of tobacco use or heavy alcohol use, Dr. Singh may suggest monitoring more closely. For children, the soft tissue check happens at every visit as part of the overall exam. The simplest way to make sure your whole family is covered is to stay consistent with your regular dental appointments, because that’s when screenings happen. Gaps in routine care are the most common reason early changes go unnoticed.
What happens if Dr. Singh finds something that doesn’t look right?
The first thing to know is that finding something unusual is not the same as a cancer diagnosis, and most abnormal findings turn out to be completely harmless. If Dr. Singh spots something he wants to keep an eye on, he’ll explain clearly what he found, where it is, and what he thinks the right next step is. Sometimes that means simply monitoring the area over the next few weeks to see if it resolves on its own. Other times it might mean additional testing, a referral to a specialist, or a biopsy to get a definitive answer. Whatever the situation, Dr. Singh will make sure you understand exactly what’s happening and feel informed and supported before any decisions are made. Nothing moves forward without your full understanding.
Is the screening uncomfortable? My kids are already nervous about the dentist.
Not at all, and this is one part of the visit that genuinely doesn’t add any stress. The visual portion is simply Dr. Singh looking carefully at the soft tissues of the mouth with good lighting, and the palpation is a gentle external check of the jaw and neck area. There are no extra instruments inside the mouth, no needles, and nothing that feels different from a regular exam. If VELscope is used, it just involves a light being shone into the mouth briefly, which kids tend to find more interesting than anything else. The whole process adds just a couple of minutes to the appointment and most children don’t notice it as something separate from the rest of their visit.
Is an oral cancer screening covered by our dental insurance?
In most cases, yes. Oral cancer screenings are performed as part of a comprehensive dental exam, which most dental insurance plans cover at least once per year. So if your family is coming in for their regular visits, the screening is typically included at no additional out-of-pocket cost. If Dr. Singh recommends follow-up testing or a more advanced evaluation based on something he finds, coverage for those next steps will depend on your specific plan. Our front desk team is happy to verify your benefits before your visit so you know exactly what to expect. Just call us at (314) 432-0960 and we’ll sort through the details with you ahead of time.
