According to the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), lip and oral cancer are the 16th most common cancers, the 11th most common cancers in men and the 18th most common cancers in women. The 5-year survival rate for oral cancer is 63%, which is lower than the survival rate for prostate cancer, cervical cancer and melanoma.

Therefore, it is important to make an early diagnosis of oral cancer lesions and to do so, it is essential to visit your dentist regularly for a complete mouth exam. You should also see your dentist if you notice any abnormal signs in the mouth such as ulcers or sores that don’t heal, persistent dark red or white areas, or nodules on the lips, tongue or neck.

If your dentist sees a suspicious lesion or lump in your mouth, they may suggest a biopsy. A biopsy is a painless procedure that removes a sample of abnormal tissue for laboratory analysis. This analysis will determine whether or not it is an oral pathology of concern, and then the dentist can decide the next steps with the patient.

Please note! A biopsy does not necessarily indicate cancer. It is possible that the biopsy result will show a cyst associated with the teeth or another benign lesion. A biopsy is a short but crucial procedure to identify a disease before it becomes too important.