"Patients under age 30 need to speak to their dentist if they are not receiving oral-cancer exams, or if they believe they are candidates for oral cancer," says AGD spokesperson Howard S. Glazer, DDS, FAGD.

"The dentist will check the head, neck and mouth for signs of oral cancer and will take swift action if oral cancer is found. Dentists must screen patients who have risk factors and those who do not, since 25 percent of oral cancer patients have none," says Dr. Glazer.