Services
Oral Cancer Screening
We check your mouth, tongue, and throat for early warning signs of oral cancer during routine visits.
Why choose us
Benefits of Oral Cancer Screening
Catch Changes Early
We look for unusual changes in your mouth so concerns can be addressed sooner rather than later.
Part of Routine Visits
We can include your screening alongside a dental exam and cleaning, so it fits easily into your regular care.
Quick and Comfortable
Our team performs a gentle visual and hands-on check that takes just a few minutes.
Peace of Mind
You leave knowing your mouth, gums, and soft tissues have been carefully checked by our dentists.
Flexible Payment Options
We accept all major PPO insurance plans and welcome self-pay patients.
Most of us look at our teeth in the mirror every day, but few of us ever check under the tongue, along the inner cheeks, or at the back of the throat. Those are exactly the places where early changes can go unnoticed for months. That is why we include an oral cancer screening as part of routine care at Family Dental Care in West Palm Beach. It takes only a few minutes during a visit you are already making, and it gives our team a regular, careful look at areas that are hard to see on your own.
An oral cancer screening is a focused examination of the soft tissues in and around your mouth. During your dental exam, Dr. Michael Westcott or Dr. Sujay Trivedi looks closely at your lips, gums, tongue, the floor and roof of your mouth, the insides of your cheeks, and the back of your throat. We check for anything unusual in color, texture, or shape. We may also gently feel areas of your jaw and neck to notice anything that seems out of the ordinary. The screening is quick and noninvasive. There are no needles, and most patients find it no more involved than the rest of their checkup.
The screening is useful for adults and for everyone who wants a fuller picture of their oral health. Some people come in with a specific concern, such as a sore that is slow to heal or a spot they noticed while brushing. Others have no symptoms at all and simply keep up with preventive care. In both cases, having a trained set of eyes review these tissues regularly means changes are less likely to be overlooked. We see patients from West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, and Palm Beach Gardens, and we fold this exam into the preventive dentistry we provide for families.
You do not need to do anything special to prepare for a screening. It helps, though, if you share what you have noticed and anything about your health history that may be relevant. We would rather hear about a small change that turns out to be nothing than miss something you were wondering about. Before your visit, consider mentioning any of the following:
- A sore, patch, or spot in your mouth that has lasted longer than you expected
- Areas of your mouth that feel rough, thickened, numb, or tender
- Ongoing hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, or a feeling that something is caught in your throat
- Changes in how your dentures or other appliances fit
- Tobacco or alcohol use, or any changes in your general health or medications
If you wear dentures, plan to remove them during the exam so we can see the tissues underneath. Dentures and partials can sometimes cause irritation that is easy to miss, so this is a good time to make sure everything looks healthy. If your dentures need repair or replacement, we can talk about that as well.
Understanding Your Results and What Comes Next
For most patients, the screening ends with a simple update: everything looks as expected. There is no recovery time and no special aftercare. You can eat, drink, and go about your day as usual. We will note what we observed in your records. That gives us a baseline to compare against at future visits, which is one of the main reasons regular screenings are useful.
If we notice something that needs a closer look, we will tell you directly and explain what we saw in plain language. Many changes in the mouth have ordinary explanations, such as irritation from a sharp tooth, a rubbing appliance, or a minor injury. Depending on what we find, we may suggest checking the area again after a short period, or we may talk with you about further evaluation. Either way, you will leave knowing what we observed and what we recommend. Between visits, keep an eye on your mouth and contact us if something new appears or an existing spot changes. Our office also offers emergency dental appointments for concerns that should not wait.
Insurance, Payment, and Making Care Accessible
Because the screening is part of a routine exam, it is often handled during the same visit as your cleaning and checkup. We accept all major PPO insurance plans and will work with your plan on your behalf. Coverage varies from plan to plan, so our team is happy to review your benefits with you before your appointment so you know what to expect.
We also welcome self-pay patients. If you do not have dental insurance, let us know when you schedule. We will talk with you about the cost of your visit ahead of time so there are no surprises.
If it has been a while since anyone checked the soft tissues of your mouth, or if something has caught your attention, we would be glad to see you. Call Family Dental Care to schedule your exam and screening. Our team in West Palm Beach looks forward to caring for you.
The process
What to expect
- 1
Talk With Us
We review your health history and ask about any changes or concerns you've noticed in your mouth.
- 2
Careful Screening
Our dentist examines your lips, tongue, cheeks, gums, throat, and neck for anything unusual.
- 3
Review and Next Steps
We share what we found, answer your questions, and recommend a follow-up plan if anything needs a closer look.