Skip to content
Estero Bay Dental offers oral cancer screening to patients in Estero and Bonita Springs, with Dr. Ivan Vigoa and our team using the VELscope system to look closely at the soft tissues of your mouth during your visit.
Oral cancer can develop on the lips, tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, and the back of the throat. Finding changes in these tissues early gives patients the best chance of a good result, yet many oral cancers are not noticed until they are more advanced and harder to treat.
At Estero Bay Dental, Dr. Ivan Vigoa and our Estero, FL team treat oral cancer screening as a normal part of caring for your health, not an optional extra, so a closer look at your mouth is built into your regular visits.
Early oral cancer often causes little or no pain, which means you may not feel anything wrong while a small change is developing. A dental exam is one of the few times someone trained to recognize the signs looks closely at your lips, tongue, cheeks, gums, and throat. When a spot is found early, it can be evaluated sooner, and that early attention is the main reason screening is recommended.
Our dentists and dental hygienists check for signs of oral cancer during each routine check-up, and our team is trained to notice even small abnormalities. If we see something that deserves a closer look, we explain what we found and talk with you about the right next step, including a referral for further evaluation when needed.
We use the VELscope Enhanced Oral Assessment System, a tool that uses blue light technology to illuminate your oral tissues. Under this light, tissue changes that may be hard to see under standard exam lighting can stand out, giving your dentist more information to work with during the visual exam.
The VELscope is a tool that supports your dentist’s judgment. It does not diagnose cancer on its own, and a spot that looks different under the light does not mean cancer is present. It simply helps us decide what deserves a closer look.
Screening is a careful look at the whole mouth, not just your teeth. The table below shows the areas we check and the kinds of changes that prompt us to take a second look.
| Area Checked | Changes That Get a Second Look |
|---|---|
| Lips and Cheeks | Sores that do not heal, patches that look white or red, or lumps along the inner cheek |
| Tongue | Color changes, thickened areas, or sores on the top, sides, or underside |
| Floor and Roof of the Mouth | Swelling, rough spots, or areas that look different from the surrounding tissue |
| Gums | Patches or growths that are not related to a tooth problem |
| Throat and Neck | Lumps, tenderness, or swelling that we can feel during the exam |
If anything on this list is something you have noticed at home, tell your hygienist or dentist at the start of your visit so we can pay special attention to that area.
Anyone can develop oral cancer, but some factors are commonly associated with a higher risk. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research shares helpful public information about these risks for patients who want to read more.
| Factor | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Tobacco Use | Smoking and chewing tobacco are among the best-known risk factors for oral cancer. |
| Heavy Alcohol Use | Frequent heavy drinking is associated with a higher risk, especially when combined with tobacco. |
| HPV Infection | Some types of human papillomavirus are linked to cancers at the back of the throat. |
| Sun Exposure | Long hours in the sun can affect the lips, which is worth remembering in Southwest Florida. |
| Skipping Dental Visits | Without regular exams, changes in the mouth may go unnoticed for longer. |
Contact our office if you notice a sore that does not heal, a lump or thickened area, a white or red patch, trouble chewing or swallowing, or ongoing hoarseness. These signs can have many causes, and most are not cancer, but they are worth having checked.
The simplest way to stay on top of your oral health is to keep your regular visits. Your exam and cleaning is the natural time for screening, since your dentist is already examining your mouth and your hygienist sees your gums and soft tissues up close. Keeping a steady schedule also gives us a baseline, so we can notice when something is new.
We also use digital X-rays and intraoral cameras at Estero Bay Dental, which help us see areas that are hard to view directly and let you see what we see. Our practice offers family dentistry for ages 7 and up, so everyone in your household can be seen in the same office.
Oral cancer screening is part of your routine dental exam, and coverage depends on your plan. We accept many PPO plans, and our team will review your benefits with you, so you can read more on our insurance page. Patients without insurance can ask about our Smile Program, a discount program. We accept CareCredit and work with several financing partners, including Cherry Financing, to provide flexible options for paying the cost of treatment over time.
Our Estero office on South Tamiami Trail welcomes patients from Estero, Bonita Springs, and nearby neighborhoods such as Pelican Landing, Pelican Sound, and Coconut Point. We are open Monday through Thursday from 8 am to 5 pm and Friday from 8 am to 1 pm, and our team speaks both English and Spanish.
Here are answers to questions we hear often about oral cancer screening.
An oral cancer screening is a careful check of your lips, tongue, cheeks, gums, and throat for signs of changes that may need a closer look. At Estero Bay Dental, our dentists and hygienists perform this check during routine visits.
The VELscope Enhanced Oral Assessment System uses blue light technology to illuminate the oral tissues. We use it at our Estero, FL office to help reveal changes that may not be visible under standard exam lighting.
No. The VELscope is a screening aid that gives your dentist more information during the exam. If something looks unusual, we explain what we saw and recommend the appropriate next step, which may include a referral for further evaluation.
We perform screening as part of your routine check-ups, so keeping your regular exam schedule is the easiest way to stay on track. Our team can talk with you about what timing makes sense for your health history.
Contact us if you notice a sore that does not heal, a lump, a white or red patch, trouble chewing or swallowing, or ongoing hoarseness. Most of these signs have other causes, but we would rather examine them than have you wait.
Tobacco use, heavy alcohol use, certain HPV infections, and sun exposure to the lips are commonly associated with higher risk. Anyone can develop oral cancer, which is why we screen every patient at Estero Bay Dental.
Screening is part of your routine exam, and coverage depends on your plan. We accept many PPO plans and our Estero team can review your benefits with you before your visit.
Yes. We accept CareCredit and work with several financing partners, including Cherry Financing, to provide flexible options for paying the cost of treatment over time. Patients without insurance can also ask about our Smile Program.
If it has been a while since your last exam, or you have noticed a change in your mouth, our Estero, FL team is ready to help. We proudly serve patients throughout Estero, Bonita Springs, and the surrounding Southwest Florida communities. We invite you to contact our office or request an appointment today.
