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Our founder, Dr. Erin Cho, and Dr. Ashley Choi, both trained at the University of Illinois Chicago.
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Oral cancer screening
What the screening checks, the early signs worth knowing, and what happens if something looks unusual.
You bite your cheek, and a week later the spot is still there. Or you notice a pale patch under your tongue while flossing and can't remember if it was always there. Most of the time these are nothing. An oral cancer screening is how a dentist checks.
At our Lakeview studio in Chicago, we check for signs of oral cancer as part of your dental exam. It's a look and a gentle feel of your mouth, head and neck. It takes a few minutes and doesn't hurt.
“A mouth is always attached to a whole person and the whole mouth always matters.”
What happens during an oral cancer screening in Chicago?
The dentist starts with your lips, inside and out, then your cheeks and gums. You'll be asked to stick your tongue out and move it to each side, because the sides and underside of the tongue are where oral cancer most often starts. Then the floor and roof of your mouth, and the back of your throat. Last, the dentist feels along your jaw and neck for lumps or swollen glands.
We do this even when you've only come in about one tooth, so a spot you can't feel still gets found.
Hearing that a dentist is watching something in your mouth, with no idea where it is, is unsettling. If we see something worth watching, we show you exactly where it is, so you can keep an eye on it too and tell us if it changes.
What are the early signs of oral cancer?
Many people expect cancer to hurt. Early oral cancer usually doesn't, so pain is a poor guide. A sore that doesn't bother you can still be worth a look.
Most mouth sores are harmless and heal within a week or two. A sore or patch that's still there after two weeks should be checked.
Call us if you notice:
A sore or ulcer that won't heal
A red or white patch in the mouth
A lump or thickening in the cheek, tongue or neck
Numbness in the tongue or lip
Trouble swallowing, or a sore throat or hoarseness that lasts
Pain in one ear that won't go away
Who is most at risk for mouth cancer?
Anyone can get oral cancer, including people with none of the usual risk factors. The risk is higher if you smoke or use other tobacco, drink alcohol regularly (and higher again if you do both), have HPV, or spend a lot of time in the sun without lip balm with SPF. It also rises with age.
HPV is the same virus behind most cervical cancers. The oral cancers it causes tend to start at the back of the throat, and they're increasingly found in younger adults who have never smoked.
If you're about to start chemotherapy or radiation, see a dentist first if you can. Both can leave the mouth dry, sore and prone to infection, so it helps to deal with any problems beforehand.
What if the dentist finds something?
Most spots turn out to be harmless: a cheek you've bitten, a rough edge on a tooth rubbing the tongue, an ulcer on its way out. A common first step is to fix anything that might be irritating it and look again in about two weeks.
Often, after a careful look, the best answer is just to keep an eye on things. A spot that still hasn't healed is different. The usual next step is a specialist, who may take a small sample of the tissue (a biopsy) to find out what it is.
The studio on Lincoln Avenue
3208 N Lincoln Ave, Lakeview. Open Tuesday to Friday, with street parking nearby.
About the studioCommon questions
Something else on your mind? Call (312) 584-0707
How often should I get an oral cancer screening?
At every regular checkup. If you have risk factors, your dentist may look more closely or more often.
Does an oral cancer screening hurt?
No. It's a look and a gentle feel of your mouth and neck, and it takes a few minutes.
What does oral cancer look like at first?
Usually a red or white patch, or a sore that doesn't heal. It often doesn't hurt, which is why a two-week-old sore is worth showing a dentist.
Can young people get oral cancer?
Yes. Cancers linked to HPV, often at the back of the throat, are increasingly found in younger adults who don't smoke.
Is oral cancer screening covered by insurance?
Usually, because it's part of a routine exam. We make using your dental benefits simple. Contact us and our team will be happy to help you understand what your plan may cover.
Noticed something that won't heal?
Request an appointment or call us, and we'll take a look.