Comprehensive Screenings for Your Peace of Mind
As part of your preventive care at Mint Dental, Dr. Alexa Lampkin performs a thorough oral cancer screening at every routine visit — examining your gums, tongue, cheeks, throat, and the roof of your mouth for any unusual lesions or tissue changes. It takes only a few minutes, it’s completely painless, and it could save your life.
If you’re looking for a dentist near you in Pearl, Brandon, Richland, and Flowood who makes early detection a priority, you’ve found the right place. Contact our Pearl dental office at (601) 882-5600 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Lampkin at Mint Dental.
What Is an Oral Cancer Screening?
An oral cancer screening is a quick, non-invasive exam your dentist performs to look for early signs of cancer or precancerous conditions in and around your mouth. It’s not a separate procedure or a scary test—it’s simply part of a thorough dental exam, and it’s one of the most valuable things your dentist can do for your long-term health.
During your screening, Dr. Lampkin will visually inspect your lips, gums, tongue, the floor and roof of your mouth, your cheeks (the inner lining is called the buccal mucosa), and the back of your throat. She’ll also gently feel along your jaw and neck for any swelling or lumps that shouldn’t be there. The whole process takes just a few minutes, but what it catches can make an enormous difference in your treatment options and outcome.
At Mint Dental, oral cancer screenings are included in your routine dental visits — no separate appointment or extra cost required.
Why Early Detection Is So Important
Here’s the number that matters most: when oral cancer is caught at a localized stage — before it has spread to surrounding tissue or lymph nodes — the five-year survival rate is approximately 87.5%. But when it’s diagnosed at a late stage after it has metastasized, that number drops to just 37.8%. The difference between those two outcomes is often nothing more than catching it early.
The problem is that oral cancer doesn’t always announce itself. Early-stage tumors in the mouth can be painless, small, and easy to dismiss as a canker sore or minor irritation. That’s exactly why regular screenings with a dentist near you matter so much — a trained eye can spot what most people would never notice on their own.
According to the American Cancer Society, about 60,480 new cases of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2026 alone. Incidence rates have been rising by roughly 1% per year, largely driven by an increase in HPV-related cancers. Oral cancer doesn’t discriminate—it affects men and women, smokers and non-smokers, and increasingly, patients under 55. In fact, 1 in 5 oral cancer cases now occurs in people younger than 55.
The takeaway: don’t wait for symptoms to prompt a visit. A routine screening at Mint Dental in Pearl, MS, is the most reliable way to stay ahead of it.
Signs and Symptoms of Oral Cancer to Know
Knowing what to look for and feel between dental visits gives you another layer of protection. The following are warning signs worth bringing up at your next appointment—or sooner, if anything feels urgent.
Visible changes to watch for:
- A sore, ulcer, or red or white patch (called erythroplakia or leukoplakia) anywhere in your mouth that hasn’t healed within two weeks
- A lump, thickened tissue, or rough spot on your gums, cheek, tongue, or the roof of your mouth
- Bleeding in your mouth with no obvious cause
- Changes in the color or texture of your gum tissue
- A red or white patch on your lips
Physical symptoms to pay attention to:
- Persistent difficulty chewing, swallowing, or moving your jaw or tongue
- A chronic sore throat or the feeling that something is stuck in your throat
- Numbness or loss of sensation in your mouth, tongue, or lips
- Swelling in your jaw that makes dentures fit poorly
- Ear pain without any sign of infection
- Unexplained weight loss
Tongue and gum cancer symptoms specifically: The tongue is one of the most common sites for oral cancer, so any sore, lump, or discolored patch on the sides or underside of the tongue that persists beyond two weeks deserves attention. Gum cancer symptoms can be easy to confuse with gum disease—look for unusual swelling, persistent sores along the gumline, or tissue that bleeds easily and doesn’t seem to respond to improved brushing and flossing.
If you notice any of these signs, please don’t wait. Call Mint Dental at (601) 882-5600 to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Lampkin. These symptoms don’t automatically mean cancer, but they do mean you need a professional set of eyes on them promptly.
What Happens During Your Oral Cancer Screening at Mint Dental
One of the most common things patients tell us is that they didn’t realize how thorough the screening would be—or how quick. Here’s a step-by-step look at what Dr. Lampkin actually does during your exam.
- Medical and lifestyle history review: Before the physical exam begins, Dr. Lampkin will review your health history and ask about relevant risk factors: tobacco use, alcohol consumption, HPV status if known, and any symptoms you’ve noticed. This context helps her focus the exam on areas of greatest concern.
- Extraoral exam: Dr. Lampkin will examine the outside of your face, head, and neck—checking your skin, feeling your lymph nodes, and looking for any visible swellings or asymmetries.
- Intraoral visual exam: Using a light and a dental mirror, Dr. Lampkin will examine every surface of your oral cavity: your lips, the insides of your cheeks, your gums, the floor of your mouth, the roof of your mouth (palate), your tongue (top, sides, and underside), and the back of your throat. She’s looking for any tissue that appears red, white, patchy, ulcerated, or otherwise abnormal.
- Physical palpation: Dr. Lampkin will gently feel the tissues in your mouth and along your jaw and neck using her fingers. This helps identify any masses, swelling, or hardened tissue beneath the surface that wouldn’t be visible on inspection alone. Oral tumors don’t always show up on the surface—palpation is how we find what eyes can’t.
- Adjunctive screening tools when appropriate: For patients with risk factors or any area that warrants a closer look, Dr. Lampkin may use a specialized light-based device, similar to VELscope technology, to illuminate the oral tissues. Normal healthy tissue fluoresces differently from abnormal tissue under this type of light, making it possible to identify lesions that might not be clearly visible under standard lighting. This is particularly useful for detecting early changes in tissue that look normal to the naked eye.
- Results and next steps: If everything looks healthy, you’ll leave knowing your mouth has been thoroughly evaluated. If Dr. Lampkin notices anything that needs further investigation, she’ll discuss it with you clearly, explain what she saw, and walk you through the appropriate next step—whether that’s scheduling a follow-up, monitoring the area at your next appointment, or a referral for a biopsy. No panic or guesswork—just a clear treatment plan and a team that has your back.
Who Should Get an Oral Cancer Screening?
The short answer: everyone with teeth, a tongue, and a routine dental visit. But certain people should be especially proactive about not skipping their screenings.
You’re higher risk if you:
- Use tobacco in any form—cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, or snuff. Tobacco use is one of the leading risk factors for oral cancer, accounting for roughly 23% of cases.
- Drink alcohol heavily. Excessive alcohol consumption significantly increases risk, especially when combined with tobacco use.
- Have had an HPV infection. Certain strains of human papillomavirus, particularly HPV-16, are now strongly linked to oropharyngeal cancers. HPV-related oral cancers have been rising steadily since the mid-2000s and now account for a growing proportion of new cases, especially in younger adults.
- Spend significant time in the sun without lip protection. UV radiation is a risk factor for lip cancer specifically.
- Are over 40. Oral cancer risk increases with age, with most cases diagnosed in people 50 and older — though as noted above, younger adults aren’t immune.
- Have a personal or family history of cancer.
Even if you don’t have any of these risk factors, you should still be screened. A meaningful percentage of oral cancer cases occur in people with no identifiable risk factors at all. Routine dental visits at Mint Dental in Pearl, MS, dispel the uncertainty.
Residents of Pearl, Brandon, Richland, Flowood, and Jackson: Mint Dental is your local option for comprehensive oral cancer screenings near you. Our Pearl dental office is conveniently located at 190 Riverwind E Dr., Suite 201, and we proudly serve patients from all surrounding communities.
How Often Should You Get Screened?
For most adults, an oral cancer screening once every six months, built into your regular dental cleaning and exam, is sufficient. Since Dr. Lampkin includes this screening in every routine visit, if you’re keeping up with your recommended dental appointments, you’re already covered.
If you’re considered high-risk based on your lifestyle, health history, or prior findings, Dr. Lampkin may recommend more frequent evaluations. This is something she’ll discuss with you directly as part of your individualized treatment plan.
If it’s been more than six months since your last dental visit or if you’ve never had an oral cancer screening, don’t put it off. Call us at (601) 882-5600 to schedule with your dentist in Pearl, MS.
Common Risk Factors for Oral Cancer
Understanding what increases your risk can help you make informed choices and know when to be especially vigilant about scheduling screenings.
- Tobacco use: Smoking cigarettes, cigars, or a pipe, or using smokeless tobacco like chewing tobacco or snuff, significantly elevates your risk. The carcinogens in tobacco products damage the cells lining your mouth and throat over time. Tobacco use is one of the top attributable causes of oral cancer deaths globally.
- Excessive alcohol consumption: Heavy drinking is independently associated with oral cancer risk, and when combined with tobacco use, the two risks are multiplicative, not just additive. Together, they represent the most significant dual risk factor for oral cancer.
- HPV infection: Human papillomavirus, particularly HPV-16, has emerged as a major driver of oropharyngeal cancer cases in the United States. HPV-associated oral cancers often occur in younger patients without traditional risk factors, which is part of why screening everyone, not just high-risk patients, matters.
- Sun exposure: Chronic unprotected UV exposure is a significant risk factor for cancer of the lip, particularly the lower lip.
- Age and sex: Oral cancer is more common in people over 50 and has historically been more prevalent in men, though the gap is narrowing as HPV-related cases rise in younger demographics.
- Poor oral health: Chronic irritation from ill-fitting dentures, rough teeth, or untreated gum disease may contribute to tissue changes that increase risk over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Dr. Lampkin performs a comprehensive oral cancer screening at every routine dental visit at our Pearl, MS, office. No additional appointment is needed, since it’s built into your standard exam.
Not at all. The oral cancer screening exam is completely non-invasive. Dr. Lampkin uses visual inspection and gentle palpation, which feels no different from a thorough dental exam. If an adjunctive light device is used, you simply open your mouth—there’s nothing to dread.
Dr. Lampkin will discuss her findings with you openly and calmly. Depending on what she finds, she may recommend monitoring the area at a follow-up visit, or she may refer you to a specialist for further evaluation or a biopsy. Finding something suspicious does not mean you have cancer — it means we’re being thorough. Most findings turn out to be benign.
Oral cancer screenings are included in your routine dental exam at Mint Dental. Many insurance plans cover preventive dental visits, which would include the screening. If you have questions about coverage or want to explore financing options, our team is happy to help — call us at (601) 882-5600.
Absolutely — and they should. General dentists are trained to identify early signs of oral cancer and are often the first line of defense in catching it early. Dr. Lampkin at Mint Dental has made oral cancer screening a standard part of every preventive care visit.
Gum cancer can look similar to gum disease in its early stages—swelling, redness, bleeding, and sores along the gumline. The key difference is that gum cancer symptoms typically don’t improve with better oral hygiene and may involve tissue that looks thickened or irregularly shaped. A professional screening is the only reliable way to distinguish between the two.
Schedule Your Oral Cancer Screening in Pearl, MS
Your oral health is worth protecting, and oral cancer screening is one of the simplest, most effective ways to do it. At Mint Dental, Dr. Lampkin and her team are committed to thorough, compassionate preventive care that looks out for your well-being—not just your teeth.
Whether you’re a new patient or a longtime member of the Mint Dental family, we’re here for you. Call our Pearl, MS, dental office today at (601) 882-5600 or request your appointment online. We serve patients from Pearl, Brandon, Richland, Flowood, Jackson, and all surrounding areas.
Don’t wait for symptoms. Schedule your routine exam and your oral cancer screening today.