In certain situations, part or all of a suspicious area may be removed for laboratory testing to see if the area is cancerous. This is generally performed by a oral medicine specialist or oral surgeon.

Dentists and oral healthcare professionals visually inspect the oral tissues, including the lips, tongue, gums, cheeks, and throat, looking for any abnormal changes, such as sores, red or white patches, or lumps. Photos are often taken of these areas to better monitor for changes over time. Manual palpation of specific areas is performed to feel for any unusual lumps, bumps, or irregularities in the oral tissues, including the neck and lymph nodes.