Oral Cancer Screening Guide
A clinical toolkit with visual screening protocols, structured documentation, and referral support. Clinical examination and histopathology remain essential.
📋 Systematic Visual Screening Protocol
Perform this 7-step systematic examination under good lighting for every adult patient, particularly those with risk factors.
Extra-Oral & Lymph Nodes
Palpate bilateral cervical, submandibular, and submental lymph nodes for swelling, fixation, or tenderness.
Lips & Labial Mucosa
Visually inspect and palpate upper and lower lips. Pull lips out to inspect the vestibule and labial mucosa.
Buccal Mucosa
Retract cheeks with mouth mirrors. Inspect and palpate left and right buccal mucosa from the commissure to the tonsillar pillar.
Tongue (All Surfaces)
Have patient protrude tongue. Using gauze, gently pull tongue left and right to inspect lateral borders. Inspect dorsal and ventral surfaces.
Floor of the Mouth
Have patient touch the roof of their mouth with their tongue. Inspect and bi-manually palpate the floor of the mouth.
Hard & Soft Palate
Depress the tongue. Inspect the hard palate, soft palate, uvula, and tonsillar pillars. Palpate the hard palate.
Alveolar Ridges & Gingiva
Inspect and palpate the vestibular and lingual gingiva and alveolar ridges.
Clinical lesion assessment
Clinical examination requiredD4Dent does not analyse lesion photographs or generate cancer-risk scores on this page. Use a systematic visual and tactile examination. If a lesion is suspicious or persists after removing an obvious cause, arrange biopsy or refer to oral medicine or oral surgery according to local pathways.
Structured Referral Generator
Document suspicious lesions systematically and generate an instant referral letter for biopsy.
🧠Clinical Referral Decision Pathway
Low Risk / Traumatic
Ulcer with obvious source of irritation (e.g. sharp cusp, broken restoration). Eliminate the source and review in 14 days. If healed, discharge.
Suspicious Lesion
Red, white, or mixed lesion with no clear local cause. Persists for >14 days. Arrange biopsy or refer to specialist immediately.
High Risk / Malignant
Exophytic lesion, induration on palpation, fixation to deeper tissues, unexplained tooth mobility, or associated lymphadenopathy. Urgent referral within 24-48 hours.