In honor of Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month, two local oral surgery practices will offer free oral cancer screenings. They will be available:

• April 15 from 2 to 5 pm at Metroplex Surgical Arts – 7988 W. Virginia Dr., Suite 200, Dallas, Texas, 75237
• April 16 from 11 am to 1 pm at Oral Surgery Associates of North Texas (OSANT) – 540 W. Frontier Parkway, Suite 100, Prosper, Texas 75078.

To participate, arrive at either clinic during its designated date and times, and ask for a free cancer screening. The screenings are part of a joint partnership with the Head & Neck Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of oral, head and neck cancer.

April is widely recognized as Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month, a time to increase awareness of the condition, risk factors, statistics and screenings. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 60,480 new cases of oral cavity or oropharyngeal (middle throat) cancer – with 13,150 deaths attributed to it – in 2026.

“The good news is oral cancer has a survival rate of 80-90% when diagnosed early, according to the Head & Neck Cancer Foundation. That’s why screenings like this are important,” said Howard F. Cooke, DMD, MS, MBA, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon with Metroplex Surgical Arts. “For most patients, we recommend yearly screenings by a qualified healthcare professional as well as monthly self-exams.”

OSANT’s Phillip Newton, DDS, MD, also recommends yearly screenings and monthly self-examinations to most patients. For monthly self-examinations, he recommends using a bring light and mirror to look for anything out of the ordinary, such as lumps, swelling, bleeding, white or red patches, or sores that won’t heal.

“If you find anything out of the ordinary, get it checked out as soon as possible,” said Dr. Newton. “Don’t wait until you’re in pain because you might not feel pain during the initial stages.” 

According to the CDC, some additional symptoms to watch for include difficulty performing daily functions like breathing, speaking and chewing or swallowing food.

The American Cancer Society reports that the average age of people diagnosed with these cancers is 64 and that one in five cases occur in people younger than 55. Some risk factors to consider include smoking and alcohol use, genetic predisposition, nutrition, mouth/face injuries, oral hygiene and certain medical conditions/diseases.

Located in Dallas, Metroplex Surgical Arts is a full scope oral and maxillofacial surgery practice led by Dr. Cooke, who is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, the highest credential that can be obtained in the specialty, according to the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Dr. Newton is also a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon. He leads OSANT’s Prosper clinic. OSANT has locations in Dallas, Allen, Plano, Cedar Hill, Rowlett, McKinney and Prosper.