A member asked:

If you suspect possible oral cancer, should you see primary care physician, or dentist? thanks

7 doctors weighed in across 3 answers

Dentist: Dentist are doctors of the mouth. Here is the approach if i may be so bold. A dentist will/should look first. Hopefully he works in microscopic loupes. Use velscope to look for suspicious lesions. Oral dna labs has a saliva hpv test. Oral hpv can transition into cancer. The biggest increase in oral cancer is 19-29 years of age. If oral cancer is suspected a biopsy is still the gold standard.

Answered 7/6/2013

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Dr. Zahid Ahmed answered

Specializes in Dentistry

Dentist first. : A dentist would be your first step for a thorough oral cancer screening. There are various ways with no one particular device, or method. Generally it begins with a visual inspection, followed by an evaluation and possible biopsy of suspicious non-healing lesions, and then proper referral to a specialist to manage the treatment. There are various types of oral lesions with a variety of etiologies.

Answered 5/1/2013

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Dentist/Oral Surgeon: An oral surgeon or a well-trained general dentist can evaluate the area and perform a biopsy which is necessary to diagnose the problem correctly.

Answered 11/27/2017

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