Oral cancer screening is an examination performed by a dentist or doctor to look for signs of cancer or precancerous conditions in your mouth. Dr. Hargis screens patients during every appointment and looks for changes to detect if cancer is present.
The goal of oral cancer screening is to identify mouth cancer early, when there is a greater chance for a cure.
Medical organizations disagree on whether healthy people without risk factors for mouth cancer need oral cancer screening. No single oral exam or oral cancer screening test is proved to reduce the risk of dying of oral cancer. Still, you and your dentist may decide that an oral exam or a special test is right for you based on your risk factors.
Information via http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/oral-cancer-screening/basics/definition/prc-20110761