*Special offer valid for patients paying in cash at time of service. New patients only.
*Special offer valid for patients paying in cash at time of service. New patients only.
New patients welcome. Call today to ask about oral cancer screenings, insurance, and payment plans, or book online anytime.
At Designing Smiles, that's exactly why we build an oral cancer screening into every routine visit at our Westchase-area dental office, checking your mouth, tongue, throat, and neck for anything that looks out of place. Because it takes just a few extra minutes during your regular checkup, you may not even notice it happening. We think that's exactly how it should work. Catching a problem early shouldn't require a separate appointment or added stress, and folding this exam into the visits you already have makes it one less thing you need to remember on your own.
Oral cancer can develop quietly, and a lot of the early warning signs, like a small white or red patch, a persistent sore, or a lump you can't quite place, don't hurt at all, so patients often don't notice them until the disease has advanced. According to the CDC, oral and pharyngeal cancers led to more than 45,000 new diagnoses in a single recent year in the United States, with men affected roughly three times as often as women.
The earlier a suspicious area is found, the more treatment options are usually available, and the better the long-term outlook tends to be. That single fact is why this screening carries so much weight in our preventive care, even though it only takes a few extra minutes of your appointment.
Book Now
Tobacco use, heavy alcohol consumption, and certain strains of HPV are among the most common risk factors, but oral cancer can still appear in patients with none of those factors present. That unpredictability is part of why we don't just reserve this exam for patients who seem high risk. Every patient who comes in for their dental cleaning and exam gets checked, because the disease doesn't always follow a predictable pattern. Age also plays a role, since these cancers are diagnosed more often in older adults, but we've found that waiting for a certain birthday before taking screening seriously isn't a strategy we're comfortable with.
Our screenings are visual and physical, and the exam is quick and gentle. We look at your lips, cheeks, gums, tongue, and the roof and floor of your mouth for discoloration, sores, or texture changes. We'll also gently feel your jaw, neck, and the area under your chin to check for any unusual lumps or swelling in the lymph nodes.
If we spot something worth a closer look, we may recommend a follow-up visit, a referral for further evaluation, or follow-up imaging using our digital X-rays to get a clearer picture of what's underneath the surface. In most cases, what we find is completely harmless, like a bit of irritation from a rough tooth edge or a canker sore working its way through the healing process. When something does look suspicious, we'll discuss the next steps calmly and clearly, without jumping to conclusions before we have more information.
We also take a moment to ask about any changes you may have noticed yourself, since patients often pick up on small differences long before they'd show up on an exam. A new patch of dryness, a spot that bleeds without an obvious cause, or a tender area near the back of your jaw are all worth mentioning, even if they seem too minor to bring up.
We build this exam into the dental cleanings and checkups you're already scheduling, so there's nothing extra for you to book or remember. This matters most for patients who might otherwise go months or years between dental visits, since gaps in care are often when early changes go unnoticed the longest.
Consistency also gives us a baseline, and when we see you regularly, we get a clear sense of what's normal for your mouth, which makes it easier to notice something new the moment it appears. Patients who only come in occasionally don't get that same advantage, which is one more reason we encourage sticking to a steady schedule rather than waiting until something feels wrong.
A few habits can also help support your oral health between visits:
Check your mouth in the mirror occasionally for new sores, patches, or lumps.
Limit tobacco and alcohol use where possible.
Mention any changes to your mouth or throat at your next appointment, even if they seem minor.
Bringing up anything unusual right away, rather than waiting to see if it goes away on its own, gives us the best chance to address it early. None of these habits replace a professional screening, but they help you stay aware of your own mouth between visits, and that awareness is valuable on its own.
Here are answers to common questions about oral cancer screenings.
Dr. Ryan Rose and Dr. Angela Hilton-Foley believe that thorough, attentive care means paying attention to more than just your teeth, which is why every checkup at our Westchase-area practice includes a look at your overall oral health, not just your smile. We’re a locally owned, family-friendly practice offering comprehensive care under one roof, with personalized treatment plans built around each patient who walks through our doors. We work with PPO insurance plans including Delta Dental, Cigna, Aetna, and MetLife, and we know navigating coverage can be confusing, so our team is always happy to help you sort out what’s included. If you don’t have insurance, that’s no problem. We also offer payment plans to help make care more accessible for every patient.
Whether it’s been a while since your last checkup or you’ve noticed something in your mouth that doesn’t feel right, our team is ready to help you get answers without any added pressure. We’d rather you ask a question that turns out to be nothing than stay quiet about something that matters. You can reach out through our contact form to schedule your next visit and make sure your screening is part of the plan.
