Our Services
Early detection saves lives
Screening technology combined with careful clinical evaluation detects oral cancer at its earliest and most treatable stages — which is why we screen at every comprehensive exam.
Oral cancer caught early is highly curable. Caught late, it is not. The difference between those two outcomes is frequently a routine screening that took three minutes at an appointment booked for something else.
Screening involves visual and tactile inspection of all soft tissues — tongue, floor of mouth, palate, cheeks, and throat — looking for lesions, colour changes, and areas of thickening that do not belong.
Know your risk factors
Tobacco Use
Cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and smokeless tobacco all significantly increase oral cancer risk. This remains the single largest modifiable factor.
Alcohol Consumption
Heavy or frequent drinking elevates risk substantially, and combined with tobacco the effect is multiplicative rather than additive.
HPV Infection
Human papillomavirus increases oropharyngeal cancer risk, and now accounts for a growing share of cases. Vaccination is available for prevention.
Sun Exposure
Prolonged sun exposure to the lips increases lip cancer risk. Protective balm with SPF is a genuinely effective precaution.
Family History
Genetic predisposition and a family history of oral cancer both increase your personal risk profile.
Age Over 40
Risk increases significantly after forty, which is precisely when regular screening becomes most valuable.
What to watch for between visits
Any sore or ulcer that has not healed within two weeks, a lump or thickening anywhere in the mouth or neck, a persistent red or white patch, unexplained bleeding, numbness, or difficulty swallowing.
Most of these turn out to be harmless. All of them are worth having looked at rather than waiting to see whether they resolve.
Ready to get started?
Screening is included in every comprehensive exam. Book yours on (905) 479-7777.