Oral Cancer Screening

At Kentish Smiles Clinic your Oral health is our priority, and as part of our comprehensive and regular examinations we perform oral cancer screening. Throughout your ongoing care, any soft tissue changes are reviewed on a regular basis.

A Detailed examination of the outside of your mouth, head and neck by observation and palpation. A thorough internal examination of your mouth, including the inside of your cheeks and under your tongue. Any inconclusive findings will be referred to the Hospital.

1. Early detection of Oral Cancer gives you a 90% chance of survival.
2. The early stages of Oral Cancer can look similar to a mouth ulcer.
3. Over 25% of Oral Cancer sufferers are non-smokers.

What is oral cancer?

Oral cancer is also called mouth cancer. It is a cancer that can develop in any part of the mouth, including the tongue, gums, cheeks, palate (roof of the mouth), under the tongue, lips, sinuses and pharynx (throat).

What causes oral cancer?

The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is still unknown. It is thought that something alters or damages certain genes in the cell, causing it to become abnormal and start multiplying.

1. Smoking. There is a much higher incidence of oral cancer in smokers than in non-smokers.
2. Excessive or frequent consumption of alcohol.
3. Chewing tobacco.
4. The Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which is a sexually transmitted infection.
5. Extended sun exposure to the area around your mouth, including your lips, without the use of a broad spectrum Sun Protection Factor (SPF) sunscreen.