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Oral Cancer Screening in Castle Rock, CO | Oakwood Dental

Oakwood Dental · Castle Rock, CO

Oral cancer kills one American every hour — yet when detected early, the five-year survival rate exceeds 80%. At Oakwood Dental in Castle Rock, CO, Dr. Jones and Dr. Zendig perform a thorough oral cancer screening at every comprehensive dental exam, included at no additional charge.

What Is Oral Cancer Screening?

An oral cancer screening is a visual and physical examination of the soft tissues of your mouth and throat — including the lips, tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, palate, and throat — looking for signs of abnormal tissue that may indicate precancerous or cancerous changes.

Risk Factors for Oral Cancer

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Tobacco use of any kind (cigarettes, cigars, pipe, chewing tobacco, vaping)
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Heavy alcohol consumption, especially combined with tobacco
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Human papillomavirus (HPV), particularly HPV-16
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Prolonged UV sun exposure to the lips
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Personal or family history of oral cancer
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Age over 40, though HPV-related oral cancer is rising in younger adults

Signs and Symptoms of Oral Cancer

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A sore or ulcer that does not heal within two weeks
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White or red patches anywhere in the mouth or throat
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A lump, thickening, or rough spot in the mouth or on the lip
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Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or moving the jaw or tongue
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Persistent hoarseness or unexplained change in voice

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I be screened for oral cancer?
At every routine dental exam — at least once per year. High-risk patients (tobacco users, heavy drinkers) should be screened at every visit.
Is oral cancer screening painful?
No. The screening is a gentle visual inspection and light palpation — no pain, no special equipment, and no preparation required.

What Castle Rock Patients Should Know About Oral Cancer Screening

Oral cancer kills roughly one American every hour — not because it’s inherently aggressive, but because it’s typically diagnosed late. When caught at Stage I or II, the 5-year survival rate exceeds 80%. Diagnosed at Stage III or IV (when it has spread to lymph nodes or other structures), survival rates drop to 40-50%. Annual oral cancer screening during your routine dental exam is the most powerful tool for early detection.

Oakwood Dental screens for oral cancer at every examination using visual inspection and tactile palpation of all soft tissue — lips, cheeks, tongue, floor of mouth, soft palate, and throat. Suspicious lesions are documented and monitored, and patients are referred promptly to an oral surgeon or oral pathologist for biopsy when indicated. We also use VELscope enhanced visualization in select cases to identify tissue changes invisible to the naked eye.

Major risk factors for oral cancer include tobacco use (cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco), heavy alcohol consumption, HPV infection (particularly HPV-16), and prolonged sun exposure to the lips. However, a growing proportion of oral cancer cases occur in patients with none of these risk factors. Everyone over 18 should receive annual oral cancer screenings — particularly patients in Castle Rock, Douglas County, and surrounding communities who may have deferred care during COVID or due to anxiety.

What does an oral cancer screening involve?
The screening is quick, painless, and performed as part of your regular dental examination. Your dentist visually inspects all soft tissue in the mouth and throat, palpates the lymph nodes in the neck, and feels the floor of the mouth and tongue for any lumps or asymmetry. The whole process adds about 3 minutes to your exam.
What am I looking for between dental visits?
Report any of the following to your dentist promptly: a sore or lesion that doesn’t heal in 2 weeks; a white or red patch anywhere in the mouth; a lump or thickening in the cheek; persistent hoarseness or sore throat; difficulty swallowing or chewing; or a feeling that something is stuck in the throat. Early detection is everything.
How often should I be screened for oral cancer?
At least annually — which means it’s covered at your routine dental exam once per year. Patients with tobacco use, heavy alcohol consumption, or prior oral cancer history should be seen more frequently. High-risk patients may benefit from enhanced screening with VELscope or similar adjunctive devices.

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