Oral Cancer Screening

An oral cancer screening is a visual and tactile examination of the tissues in and around your mouth. We check your lips, the inside of your cheeks, the roof and floor of your mouth, your tongue — including the sides and underside, where changes are easy to miss — your gums, the back of your throat, and the soft tissue beneath your jaw and along your neck. We're looking for sores that haven't healed, white or red patches, thickened areas, lumps, persistent rough spots, or anything that feels different from the surrounding tissue.

This is part of how we approach preventive dentistry for patients of all ages at our Ocala office. You don't need a specific concern to be screened, and you don't need a referral. We include this examination as a normal part of the care we provide alongside dental exams and cleanings, which means most patients are screened regularly without ever scheduling a separate appointment for it.

Everyone benefits from having their oral tissues examined on a consistent basis, but some situations make regular screening especially worthwhile. Tobacco use in any form, heavy alcohol use, significant sun exposure to the lips, and a family or personal history of cancer are all reasons to be attentive. Age matters too, though changes can appear at any stage of life, which is one reason we screen adults across the board rather than only those who fit a particular profile.

You should also bring up anything you've noticed yourself. Patients often mention a sore that keeps coming back in the same spot, a patch that feels rough against the tongue, difficulty swallowing, a lingering sore throat, numbness, a change in how dentures fit, or a lump they can feel under the jaw. Those observations are useful to us. If you wear complete or partial dentures, the tissue underneath deserves a look as well — removable appliances can cover areas you'd never see on your own.

Here's what's helpful to know before your appointment:

• No preparation is needed, and the screening itself is painless and takes only a few minutes.
• If you wear dentures or a partial, we'll ask you to remove them so we can examine the tissue underneath.
• Tell us about any sore, patch, lump, or change you've noticed, including how long it's been there.
• Let us know about tobacco or alcohol use and any relevant medical history — this context shapes what we watch for.
• Screening is a check, not a diagnosis; findings guide the next step rather than supply a final answer.

Insurance, Payment, and Booking Your Visit

We accept all major PPO insurance plans and file claims as a General Practitioner. Because screening is typically performed as part of a routine dental exam, many patients find it's covered under their preventive benefits — our team can review your plan with you beforehand so there are no surprises. We also welcome self-pay and cash patients, and we offer flexible payment plans for treatment that follows.

We've cared for families in Ocala for more than 30 years, and we see patients from Belleview, Silver Springs, Summerfield, The Villages, Dunnellon, Lady Lake, Marion Oaks, and the surrounding Marion County communities. Dr. Hussein Salifu and Dr. Marco Geris would be glad to see you. If it's been a while since your last exam, or if something in your mouth has you wondering, call us and we'll get you on the schedule.