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10 Essential Steps for Preventive Dentistry at Grand Mission
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Oral Cancer Screening in Richmond, TX
Included at Every Exam by Dr. William Sung DMD
Oral Cancer Screening at Grand Mission
Oral cancer is highly treatable when caught early and one of the most dangerous cancers when it is not. The problem is that in its early stages it rarely causes pain or symptoms a patient would notice on their own. At Grand Mission, Dr. William Sung performs a thorough oral cancer screening at every exam, checking lips, tongue, throat, gums, and soft tissues for any changes that warrant a closer look. It takes two minutes. It adds nothing to your appointment cost. And it is one of the most important things we do at every single visit.
Why Oral Cancer Screening Matters
88.4% five-year survival rate when caught at the localized stage
When oral cancer is found before it has spread beyond the original site, the five-year survival rate is 88.4% according to the National Cancer Institute SEER database.
Only 26.2% of cases are diagnosed at the localized stage
Despite the dramatically better survival odds at early stage, the majority of oral cancers are still caught after they have already spread. Most patients show no symptoms in the early stages.
The survival rate drops to 38.5% once the cancer has spread
When oral cancer reaches distant metastasis before diagnosis, five-year survival falls to 38.5%. The difference between localized and metastatic diagnosis is not marginal. It is life-altering.
Regular dental visits are associated with earlier stage diagnosis and improved survival
Research published in PMC found that patients who visited a dentist within the previous year were more likely to be diagnosed at an earlier, more treatable stage and had improved survival outcomes from oral cancer.
What an Oral Cancer Screening Involves
The screening takes approximately two minutes and is performed by Dr. Sung as part of every comprehensive exam. Here is what is examined.
Lips and Corners of the Mouth
Tongue
Floor of the Mouth and Palate
Gums and Inner Cheeks
Throat and Tonsil Area
Neck and Lymph Nodes
AI-Assisted Diagnostic Analysis
What Skipping Your Exams Is Actually Costing You
Oral cancer kills roughly one person per hour in the United States. The death rate is not because it is hard to detect. It is because it is routinely found too late.
Health Risk Sources
Oral Cancer Foundation. "Oral Cancer Facts." https://oralcancerfoundation.org/facts/
Warnakulasuriya S. "Global epidemiology of oral and oropharyngeal cancer." Oral Oncology vol. 45,4-5 (2009): 309-316. Referenced in: Alves de Souza Setubal Destro MF, et al. "Low Survival Rates of Oral and Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma." PMC (2017). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5468590/
Oral Cancer Foundation. "Oral Cancer Facts." https://oralcancerfoundation.org/facts/
Rompante P, et al. "Oral Cancer Prevalence, Mortality, and Costs in Medicaid and Commercial Insurance Claims Data." PMC (2022). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9437560/
Signs You Should Not Ignore Between Visits
These are the warning signs the Oral Cancer Foundation and the American Dental Association recommend every patient know. If you notice any of these, do not wait until your next scheduled exam.
A sore or lesion in the mouth that does not heal within two weeks
A red or white patch anywhere in the mouth that appears unexpectedly
Unexplained numbness, pain, or tenderness in the mouth, face, or neck
Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or moving the tongue or jaw
A persistent sore throat or feeling that something is caught in the throat
A lump, thickening, or roughened texture anywhere in the mouth or neck
Unexplained bleeding in the mouth that is not related to brushing or gum irritation
why patients choose grand mission dentistry for Oral Cancer Screening
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Included at Every Exam
You never need to request a screening or pay extra for one at Grand Mission. Every comprehensive exam includes a full oral cancer screening as a standard part of your care. This is how it should be done.
Early Detection Is the Whole Point
The survival rate for localized oral cancer is 88.4%. For cancer that has already spread, it falls to 38.5%. Everything about our screening protocol is oriented around catching changes at the earliest possible stage when outcomes are dramatically better.
AI-Assisted Screening Technology
Grand Mission uses an FDA-validated AI diagnostic platform to support oral cancer screening, helping identify tissue changes with a level of precision that goes beyond standard visual examination. The same technology is used across diagnostic procedures throughout the practice.
Dr. William Sung DMD
Dr. Tam Nguyen DMD
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Frequently Asked Questions About oral cancer screening
Is oral cancer screening painful?
No. The screening is a visual and gentle hands-on examination of your mouth, lips, tongue, throat, and neck. There is no discomfort involved. It takes approximately two minutes and is performed as part of your regular exam.
How often should I have an oral cancer screening?
The American Dental Association recommends oral cancer screening at every routine dental exam. For most patients this means twice a year. Patients with higher risk factors including tobacco use, heavy alcohol consumption, or a history of HPV infection may benefit from more frequent evaluation.
What are the risk factors for oral cancer?
The primary risk factors are tobacco use in any form, heavy alcohol consumption, HPV infection particularly HPV-16, prolonged sun exposure to the lips, and a personal or family history of oral cancer. However, oral cancer increasingly affects patients with no traditional risk factors, which is why routine screening matters for everyone.
What happens if something suspicious is found?
If Dr. Sung identifies an area of concern during your screening, he will discuss it with you clearly and explain what the next steps are. In most cases this means monitoring the area at a follow-up appointment or recommending a biopsy to determine whether further evaluation is needed. Finding something suspicious is not a diagnosis of cancer. It is the system working exactly as it should.
Does oral cancer screening detect throat cancer?
The visual and tactile screening at Grand Mission includes the oropharyngeal tissues at the back of the throat, the tonsil area, and the soft palate. HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers are among the fastest-growing categories of oral cancer diagnoses and are specifically evaluated as part of every screening.
The Importance of Regular Check-Ups with Your General Dentist
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Related Services
Routine Dental Exams
Oral cancer screening is performed as part of every comprehensive exam at Grand Mission. If you are not already a regular patient, this is where to start.
Learn More about Routine Dental Exams
Professional Cleanings
Regular professional cleanings remove bacterial buildup that can irritate gum tissue and create conditions associated with increased oral disease risk.
Learn More about Professional Cleanings
X-Rays and Imaging
Digital X-rays provide a detailed view of structures beneath the gum line that visual screening alone cannot see, completing the picture of your oral health.
Learn More about X-Rays and Imaging
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Two minutes at every exam. That is all an oral cancer screening takes. If you have not had an exam recently, now is the right time to schedule one. Early detection is the single most effective tool we have against oral cancer and it starts here.