A two-minute check
that can save your life.

What we’re looking for

During your exam, Dr. Sanie carefully checks the soft tissues of your mouth, tongue, throat, lips, and the floor and roof of your mouth. We feel for unusual lumps in your neck and jaw. We look for sores that haven’t healed, white or red patches, or any changes that weren’t there before.

Why every six months matters

Oral cancer is highly treatable when caught early — and often unnoticed by the patient until it’s advanced. Because we see your mouth twice a year and remember what it looked like last time, we’re often the first to spot a change. That’s a real advantage you don’t get from an annual physical alone.

Risk factors worth knowing

• Tobacco use of any kind, including chewing tobacco
• Heavy alcohol consumption, especially combined with tobacco
• HPV (human papillomavirus) infection
• Significant sun exposure (lip cancer specifically)
• A history of cancer elsewhere
• Age — risk rises after 40, though we screen all adults

Many oral cancers do occur in patients without classic risk factors. That’s another reason we screen everyone.

What to tell us

If you’ve noticed a sore that hasn’t healed in two weeks, a persistent lump, numbness in your mouth or lip, difficulty swallowing, or a hoarseness that won’t resolve, please mention it — even if you have a cleaning coming up soon. Often it’s nothing concerning, but worth a closer look.

What happens if we find something

If Dr. Sanie sees an area worth investigating further, we’ll either watch it for a couple of weeks (many things resolve on their own) or refer you to an oral surgeon for a biopsy. Either way, you’ll know exactly what we’re thinking and why. No surprises.