Screening is looking for cancer before a person has any symptoms. This can help find cancer at an early stage. When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat because by the time symptoms appear cancer may have begun to spread all over.

Screening for oral cancer may be done during a routine check up by a dentist or medical doctor. The exam will include checking for lesions, areas of leukoplakia (an abnormal white patch of cells) and erythroplakia. If lesions are seen in the mouth following procedures may be use to find the abnormal tissue.

Test for Oral Cancer Screening

• Toluidine Blue Stain a procedure in which lesions are coated with a blue die. Areas that stain darker are more likely to be cancer.
• Fluorescence Staining "In these procedures lesions viewed using a special light after that patient uses fluorescent mouth rinse, normal tissue looks different from abnormal tissue in the light.
• Exfoliative Cytology a piece of cotton, a brush or small wooden stick is used to gently scrape cells from the lips, tongue, mouth or throat and then view under microscope.
• Brush Biopsy - a brush is used to gently scrape cells from the lips, tongue, mouth or throat and then view under microscope.