A sore that won't heal
Any mouth ulcer lasting more than 2 weeks needs a professional look.
Oral cancer screening in Thunder Bay - five minutes that can change everything
9:00 am - 5:00 pm - Tue - Wed, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Fri
1480 Walsh St W, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Oral cancer screening in Thunder Bay - five minutes that can change everything
A thorough, painless head, neck and soft-tissue examination - included with every comprehensive visit at Smile Care Studio. Because oral cancer found early is highly treatable; found late, it's life-threatening.
Oral Cancer Screening
Thorough head, neck and soft-tissue screening at every comprehensive visit - peace of mind included.
- Full extra- & intra-oral exam
- Early-detection protocol
- Same-visit dentist referral if needed
Why we screen every patient, every visit
- Roughly 4,000 Canadians are diagnosed with oral cancer each year - and many cases are found late, simply because no one looked.
- Early-stage oral cancer is highly treatable; survival rates fall dramatically once disease spreads - detection timing is everything.
- Early lesions are usually painless, so patients rarely notice them. A trained eye does.
- It costs you nothing extra: screening is built into every comprehensive hygiene visit here - prevention and detection in one appointment.
Sources: Canadian Cancer Society oral cancer statistics and early-detection guidance.
What we examine during your screening
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Face & neck
Symmetry, skin changes and the lymph nodes under your jaw and along your neck.
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Lips & surrounding skin
Sun damage, non-healing cracks and colour changes - lip cancer is sun-related and very detectable.
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Tongue - all surfaces
Top, sides and especially the underside and borders, the highest-risk zone.
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Floor of mouth & cheeks
White or red patches, lumps and thickened areas, checked visually and by gentle palpation.
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Gums, palate & throat
Every soft-tissue surface, plus your tonsil area and the back of your throat.
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Document & act
Anything unusual is photographed, mapped and either monitored on a 2-week review or referred same-visit.
9 signs of oral cancer you should never wait out
White or red patches
Flat patches on tongue, gums or cheeks that don't wipe away.
A lump or thickening
In the cheek, tongue, neck or anywhere in the mouth.
Unexplained bleeding
Bleeding with no obvious cause or injury.
Numbness or pain
Persistent numbness, pain or tenderness in face, mouth or neck.
Difficulty chewing or swallowing
New trouble moving food, or a feeling something's caught.
Hoarseness or sore throat
Persistent changes in voice or throat that don't resolve.
One-sided ear pain
Ear pain with no ear infection can refer from the throat.
Loose teeth / ill-fitting dentures
Sudden changes with no dental cause deserve screening.
The 2-week rule: any sign above lasting more than two weeks = get checked. Book a concern check - we prioritize these appointments.
Who is at higher risk?
- Tobacco in any form - smoking, vaping, chewing, snus: the single biggest risk.
- Heavy alcohol use - multiplies tobacco's risk dramatically.
- HPV infection - now a leading cause of throat-area cancers in younger non-smokers.
- Sun exposure - outdoor workers face elevated lip-cancer risk.
- Age 45+, male sex, weakened immunity - statistically elevated baselines.
- Low fruit/vegetable diets - protective nutrients matter.
No risk factors? You still get screened - a meaningful share of oral cancers occur in people with none of the classic risks.
What happens if something is found?
- Most findings are benign - trauma, infections and harmless variations are common.
- 2-week review: minor uncertainties are photographed and re-checked in 14 days.
- Same-visit referral: anything suspicious goes immediately to your dentist or physician for diagnosis - hygienists screen; diagnosis is made by dentists/physicians via biopsy.
- We coordinate: records, photos and history travel with you so nothing is repeated or lost.
Five minutes. Painless. Potentially life-saving.
Every comprehensive visit at 1480 Walsh St W includes your head, neck and soft-tissue screening - automatically.
"Gentle, thorough, honest. My gums are healthier than they've been in years." - David K., verified patient
"They walked me through everything in two minutes. Transparent and kind." - Mark T., verified patient
Good to know
Questions, answered
Something else on your mind? A real human replies within one business hour.
+1 (873) 688-5426
No - And We're Clear About That. Hygienists Are Trained To Screen, Document And Refer. Diagnosis Requires A Dentist Or Physician, Usually With Biopsy. Our Job Is Making Sure Nothing Waits Unnoticed.
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No And No. It's A Painless Visual And Gentle-touch Examination Taking About Five Minutes - No Instruments, No Needles, No Discomfort. Most Patients Barely Notice It Happening Within Their Regular Visit.
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At Every Comprehensive Dental Visit - For Most People That Means Every 6 Months. If You Use Tobacco, Drink Heavily, Work Outdoors Or Have Had A Previous Lesion, We May Screen And Photograph More Frequently.
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Yes. A Significant Share Of Oral Cancers Occur In People With No Classic Risk Factors And HPV-related Throat Cancers Are Rising In Younger Non-smokers. Screening Is Universal Prevention, Not Risk-based Rationing.
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Screening Is Included Within Your Comprehensive Hygiene Examination, Which Most Ontario Plans And NIHB Cover Under Examination Benefits - So There's No Separate Barrier Or Fee For Being Checked.
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Most Findings Are Harmless And Get A Simple 2-week Photo Review. Anything Suspicious Is Referred Same-visit To Your Dentist Or Physician For Diagnosis. You Leave Knowing Exactly What We Saw, What It Likely Means And What Happens Next.
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