3548 Davis Dr.

Morrisville, NC 27560-8819

(919) 388-0137

Getting an Oral Cancer Screening

An oral cancer screening can be performed at your biannual dental check-up. It does not require any special preparation and can detect cancer in the early stages when it is most easily treatable. Dr. Geetha Sripathi is a general and cosmetic dentist at Elite Smiles in Morrisville, NC. She provides oral cancer screenings.

What Happens During Oral Cancer Screening?

Morrisville, NC dental patients typically have their oral cancer screening at their routine dental visit. During the examination, Dr. Sripathi will take a close look at the inside of your mouth to check for any abnormal white or red of tissue and sores. She will also feel the tissue inside your mouth to check for swellings or abnormalities. She will also examine your throat for lumps.

You may also have additional tests including:

  • Screening dye: For this test, you will rinse out your mouth with oral cancer screening dye. The blue dye will cling to any abnormal cells in your mouth, allowing Dr. Sripathi to see any signs of cancer.
  • Screening light: With an oral cancer screening light, normal tissue appears dark and abnormal tissue appears white.

If your Morrisville NC dentist sees any signs of oral cancer she will typically recommend a repeat visit within two weeks to check if the abnormal area is still visible and if it has changed or grown bigger. You may also need a biopsy to remove a cell sample to be sent to the lab for testing.

Bear in mind that not all lumps or discolored areas in your mouth are necessarily caused by oral cancer. But if they do turn out to be cancerous then catching them as early as possible gives you the best chance of successful treatment.

If you would like to find out more about oral cancer screening or discuss other dental concerns in Morrisville, NC, call Dr. Geetha Sripathi at Elite Smiles at 919-388-0137 to schedule an appointment.