Oral Cancer Screening in Burke, VA
A Quick Exam That Could Save Your Life
Oral cancer screening is one of the most important — and most overlooked — parts of a dental visit. At Shield Dental Care in Burke, VA, every comprehensive exam includes a thorough oral cancer screening, because early detection is the single most important factor in successful treatment.
The screening takes just a few minutes, involves no discomfort, and could catch something that changes everything.
Why Oral Cancer Screenings Matter
The numbers are sobering. According to the American Cancer Society:
- Approximately 54,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral or oropharyngeal cancer each year
- Oral cancer causes roughly 11,000 deaths per year in the U.S.
- The 5-year survival rate is 84% when cancer is detected early and localized — but drops to 39% when diagnosed at a late stage
The difference between early and late detection is often the difference between a minor procedure and life-threatening illness. Yet many patients don’t receive regular screenings because they don’t know to ask for them.
At Shield Dental Care, you don’t have to ask. It’s part of every exam.
What Happens During an Oral Cancer Screening?
During your screening, Dr. Ghorbani or one of our clinicians will:
- Visually examine your lips, gums, tongue (top, bottom, and sides), floor of the mouth, roof of the mouth, inner cheeks, and the back of your throat
- Physically palpate your jaw, neck, and under your chin to check for unusual lumps, swelling, or asymmetry
- Note any abnormalities including white patches (leukoplakia), red patches (erythroplakia), sores that haven’t healed, unusual texture changes, or areas of thickening
If anything looks concerning, we’ll discuss it with you immediately and recommend next steps, which may include monitoring the area, a biopsy, or a referral to a specialist.
The entire screening takes less than five minutes and is completely painless.
Risk Factors for Oral Cancer
While oral cancer can affect anyone, certain factors increase your risk:
- Tobacco use (cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, snuff) — the #1 risk factor
- Heavy alcohol consumption — especially combined with tobacco use
- HPV infection (human papillomavirus, particularly HPV-16) — increasingly the leading cause of oropharyngeal cancers in younger adults
- Prolonged sun exposure — increases risk of lip cancer
- Age — risk increases significantly after age 45
- Gender — men are roughly twice as likely as women to develop oral cancer
- Poor nutrition — diets low in fruits and vegetables may increase risk
- Previous oral cancer diagnosis — significantly increases risk of recurrence
Even if none of these apply to you, regular screening is still recommended. A growing percentage of oral cancer cases occur in patients with no traditional risk factors.
Early Detection Saves Lives
Oral cancer is highly treatable when caught early. The challenge is that early-stage oral cancer often presents with symptoms that are easy to ignore — a small sore, a patch of discoloration, a slightly rough area of tissue. These changes don’t typically cause pain in the early stages, which is why many cases aren’t caught until the disease has advanced.
Regular professional screening catches what you might miss at home. It’s a simple step that takes minutes but provides peace of mind — and potentially, a life-saving early diagnosis.
How Often Should You Be Screened?
We recommend an oral cancer screening at every six-month dental exam. If you have additional risk factors — particularly tobacco use, heavy alcohol consumption, or a history of HPV — more frequent screening may be appropriate.
Between dental visits, you can perform a self-check at home by looking for any changes in your mouth’s normal appearance: new sores, color changes, lumps, or areas that don’t heal within two weeks. If you notice anything unusual, don’t wait for your next scheduled visit — call us right away.
Schedule Your Screening
Oral cancer screening is quick, painless, and included in every comprehensive exam at Shield Dental Care. There’s no reason to skip it — and every reason to prioritize it.
Schedule your exam and screening in Burke, VA, or call 703-250-5072.
Regular screenings are a core part of our preventive dentistry services — because protecting your health means looking beyond just your teeth.
What Our Patients Are Saying
Dr Ghorbani is the very best dentist hands down His knowledge is multi-faceted and his skills are precise Thank you Read More Dr Ghorbani for providing the pinnacle of dental care
This office continues to impress me The entire staff is so polite and they always have a positive attitude when Read More I come in Dr Ghorbani was unavailable today but they were able to keep my appointment with their new physician She was able to take care of my two crown replacements with ease She is so sweet Thank you for such a great experience
I have had the good fortune of having Dr Ghorbani as my dentist for over years He has taken great Read More care of my entire family even putting my daughter in braces and pulling her wisdom teeth you name it the Dr can fix it We fully trust his work and his advice The staff is always friendly and welcoming The office is extremely clean and beautiful We highly recommend Sheild dental care for all dental needs - Candace Jones Operario lifetime patient
I have been with Shield Dental Care for a few years now and I have always had a wonderful experience Read More This is something many don't expect to hear when it comes to dental work but both Dr Ghorbani and staff are fantastic I have always been treated with respect and everyone is always showing how much they care I have recently decided to move my children to this practice so their approach on going to the dentist is a positive experience moving forward
I absolutely LOVE all the staff The front desk is SO friendly and accommodating And Julie and Dr G are Read More absolutely the best they are so funny and really are genuine and great at what they do They make going to the dentist enjoyable I have never been pushed into any expensive treatment and they ve really taken the time to figure out what my smile needs I trust them completely and believe me my dental needs are extensive
We have been patients of Dr Ghorbani for nearly years He s great with adults and children Both of my Read More little girls love everyone in the office Dr G is great with my kiddos and even did a filling in my year old with zero trouble The entire office is friendly attentive informative at every visit The office is especially great for the ability to handle most of our dental needs in one place from my husbands dental implant to my Invisalign it has been super convenient to see Dr G for everything
Excellent service artful dentistry top-notch work The office can get a little loud but everyone is attentive and efficient Love Read More the TV on the ceilings and the super fast and completely digital sign-in process Highly recommend this practice
My wife and I went to Arlington Center for Dentistry ACD for years and were happy but the drive was Read More too far after moving We had a history of bad experiences before ACD but Shield Dental was thankfully a phenomenal experience The practice has the most advanced imaging tech and does a full work up to understand your teeth and gums and talk through everything In addition Shield takes a conservative approach to cavities meaning they ll only fill the cavities when absolutely necessary Shield has immediately become our new family dentist and if you re in the Burke area I d recommend giving them a try
This place is the essence of professionalism Everyone who works there is just lovely and Dr Ghorbani is an expert Read More at what he does and really passionate about keeping you looking and feeling great If you have serious issues I highly recommend this place as I had two dental surgeries after an injury and he did a wonderful job The office is beautiful clean and very relaxing and the dental hygienists are also very talented and gentle with the teeth cleaning Can not recommend enough
The best dentist around Love it for our entire family They are so friendly and we always have a positive Read More experience
Without a doubt this dental office stands out as the best I've ever been to Right from the moment I Read More stepped in the front desk staff greeted me with utmost politeness friendliness and professionalism They made me feel welcomed and at ease instantly Dr Ghorbani's expertise was evident throughout the appointment He attentively listened to my concerns and displayed genuine care and understanding His efficiency was remarkable as he worked diligently with precision and speed I was impressed when Dr Ghorbani administered the anesthesia it was incredibly gentle and I barely felt a thing This important detail showcased his commitment to ensuring a comfortable experience for his patients Overall I am exceptionally satisfied with my visit to this dental office Dr Ghorbani and his team have set the bar high for exceptional dental care I can confidently recommend this office to anyone in search of top-notch treatment friendly service and a stress-free dental experience
Shield Dental care and Dr Ghorbani are top notch The staff is caring and are there to make sure your Read More comfort comes first I would highly recommend them My teeth and gums have never been in better shape
I visit a dentist times a year this by far the best dental office I ever visited Alyssa was awesome Read More Karina was great and the Dr that spent a few minutes of her time with me was impactful You will be right at ease I can't wait to go back
Love Dr G and everyone at this practice It's worth the drive from DC every time I've had a bunch Read More of work with Dr G and everything has been first class best quality Plus he's very personable caring and explains everything thoroughly Everyone who works at the practice hygienists front desk admin and everyone else is very friendly and extremely competent Can't recommend Shield Dental highly enough
Amazing experience Dr G took his time to explain my procedure and answered all my questions he has a great Read More sense of humor patience and a charming personality The ladies at the front desk are extremely friendly and professional I am definitely doing all my treatments here and bringing my family as well Highly recommended
Shield Dental Care is an excellent care facility All the doctors and staff are super nice I recommend this center Read More to anyone for their medical dental needs I am very glad about Shield Dental Care
My family and I have been clients of Shield Dental for years We even travel from MD Dr G is Read More an amazing dentist and his staff is supreme The staff knows you by name and makes you feel like family I highly recommend to anyone looking for dental care and excellent customer service
I was treated by Dr Ghorbani for a wisdom tooth extraction I was very nervous as I am pregnant haven Read More t received dental care in years so I knew the state of my teeth was not good Dr Ghorbani eased all my fears about my treatment kindly advised me about treatment I would need in the future without shame All of his clinical staff were very kind and welcoming as well I will be visiting them again postpartum to get my dental health in order So glad I found such a great office for this journey
I ve been a patient here for several years and am always pleased with the professional and friendly staff Dr Read More G is wonderful and I can t say enough good things about this practice They are very thorough in their explanations and upfront about any additional costs Would highly recommend if you are looking for a knowledgeable and trustworthy dentist
This is by far the best dentist I ve been too All the staff at Shield Dental Care are so Read More warm and welcoming I appreciate all their thorough communication throughout my visit The front desk staff dental hygienist and dentist are all wonderful I will be recommending them to friends and family
Cannot say enough positive things about Shield Had another pain free and thorough cleaning from Chelsea Fiorese She s the Read More best Have been going to her for years now and could not be happier with the care she provides The Dentists are exceptional and the office staff is wonderful friendly and professional Most highly recommend the Shield team
My visit today was amazing Dr Ghorbani was fantastic as always He is extremely knowledgeable and ensured all of my Read More questions were addressed Additionally Karina did a wonderful job from my arrival through the procedure and x ray process I highly recommend the Shield Dental team
The care at Shield Dental Care is exceptional I trust their recommendations to keep my teeth healthy and looking good Read More Dr Ghorbani and his staff of professional technicians are kind knowledgeable and always looking out for the patients well being
I was very nervous going into the dentist But everyone at Shield Dental made you feel welcome and at ease Read More They made me feel comfortable and were thorough through the whole process Best dental office I have ever been to
I have been going to this office since they opened up so I can say this with complete sincerity That Read More the entire team at shield dental is phenomenal and they truly go above and beyond From the minute you walk in the door your graciously welcomed by the front desk and every step of the way you are treated with respect and professionalism from the dental hygienist to the dentist himself All of the staff are exceptional but Chelsea really goes out of her way to brighten your day and your smile I appreciate how clean the entire office is and it seems like they are up to speed with all the latest technology I will continue going here as long as I m in the area can t say enough positive things about this place
Hands down the BEST dentist around Dr Ghorbani is not only personable but extremely talented The girls at the front Read More desk are always smiling professional and knowledgeable about all my insurance questions Also the hygienist are friendly and always take good care of me HIGHLY RECOMMEND for all your dental needs
By FAR the best dentist I ve ever been to I used to be very nervous of going to the Read More dentist and here they make you feel welcomed and at ease I ve also brought my two sons since they were babies and they are well taken care of We've been coming here for years and I tell everyone I know to make an appointment but it s the first time I m writing a review Today was extra special because they switched hygienists last minute so my son could have the same one as his brother which was a very big deal to him and made him feel extra comfortable They go the extra mile
I ve been coming to shield since they first opened I have told numerous friends and family about how wonderful Read More this office is The staff is not only very welcoming but they do their job well The dental technicians are all very professional and good at what they do Dr G is amazing and very professional I know I m in good hands with him
I don t know much about Dentistry but I know genuine This practice is genuine about what you need and Read More don t need Grateful to have found this practice
Fantastic practice- I started coming here as my old dentist left her practice There are so many dentists in the Read More Burke area I went to two different ones before coming here because I take my dental care seriously after a few difficult experiences with dentists if I a not a good fit with the practitioner I find someone who is I was very happy with Dr G's honesty and expertise it saved me time money and a headache The office was contemporary and clean and the staff has a great spirit The treatment was prompt and immediate and I am pleased to say I have found my new dentist
Literally if you are middle class or a real human being you are going to the right place It is Read More a very great office with good staff
Dr Ghorbani makes going to the dentist easy and his assistants and office staff are so nice.
The office staff at Shield Dental are always welcoming polite and so friendly I have seen Dr G for many Read More years and he is the absolute BEST dentist He is very knowledgeable and talented in all areas of dentistry makes you feel comfortable and takes the time to explain the procedure Our hygienist Chelsea is amazing She is so personable and her cleanings are always very gentle Highly recommend this practice
An outstanding experience I had a dental emergency while only in town for a couple of days Dr Ghorbani went Read More out of his way to fit me in relieved my pain and thoroughly explained my path forward after I returned home The staff was extremely friendly and professional as well
Dr Lina Aljarah is one of Northern Virginia's best dentists I did not feel anything Mainly I have a phobia Read More of injections literally no pain even though I didn t realize she numbed me Plus I wanted to thank her assistant Carolina and the front office Everyone is amazing They give me very positive vibes and they take care of me I don t know what to say but I highly recommend seeing Dr Lina
Efficient and very helpful with scheduling Professional and personal Questions are completely answered Good education on helping my dental care Read More at home
I love how professional the staff is at this dentistry My experience was great and highly recommend this dentistry to Read More others Dr G is very professional and takes his time with his patients
The staff at Shield Dental is friendly polite and knowledgeable I am confident that I am getting the best care Read More under them and am very pleased with their service I feel heard regarding any treatment I am receiving and thankful for their recommendations
Shield dental is the best dentist Chelsea is an amazing hygienist she gets your teeth clean without it being uncomfortable Read More or painful and she also is great with kids which is so helpful Dr Ghorbani is a great dentist and did a wonderful job with my gum surgery
Very impressive dental office The hygienist was wonderful and very non-judgmental The dentist used state-of-the-art techniques to fill my cavity Read More I couldn t believe how quickly he finished I m really excited to recommend this office to my friends It is handicap accessible and there is a free parking lot with plenty of spaces
From start to finish this office is the best The receptionists are so friendly My teeth cleaning by Chelsea is Read More always so gentle but thorough My teeth feel so smooth The exam by Dr Lina was excellent She clearly explains the treatment plan all my questions answered
They have always been prompt and on time They accommodate our needs They have done an excellent job on my Read More teeth I would recommend them to anyone
Great dental practice I ve been coming to this office for years The front office staff is amazing the hygienists Read More are thorough and gentle and Dr G is the absolute best Genuinely kind people I also appreciate how they continually invest in new technology Thanks Shield You have a patient for life
Dr Ghorbani is a very knowledgeable and experienced doctor he is always willing to take extra steps to help his Read More patients he has given me the most beautiful smile for past ten years I am very grateful for his service and I highly recommend him to everyone His office is very clean and beautiful and he has the most amazing staff Thank you
My son needed all wisdom teeth removed and Dr Ghorbani and his team did a wonderful job of relaxing both Read More my son and I It was a very pleasant experience We have been coming to this practice for years and have always had great customer service Thank you Sheild Dental Care
I am so impressed with Shield Dental Care Everyone there was so friendly and welcoming Dr Pejman Ghorbani was amazing Read More and so helpful He was very clear about what should be done now and what we could wait on It was an amazing experience all the way around I am so happy I found a dentist I have confidence in I will be recommending them to everyone I know
I have dental anxiety and everyone at Shield Dental was wonderful The front desk staff are incredibly friendly and helpful Read More Chelsea was wonderful And Dr G did an excellent job with a cap on my tooth Highly recommend
I am a high anxiety dental patient and Dr Ghorbani listened intently to my concerns explained what he was doing Read More the noises how long each part of my treatment would take he is fast precise and efficient He is well worth it for those that have dental anxiety such as myself He also treats my family as well and we have all been very happy with him and this dental practice Staff is very friendly and professional the practice is very clean and welcoming
We love Shield The dentist and Chelsea are fantastic I used to avoid the dentist after bad experiences but they Read More made it easy to get back on a regular schedule and I don t dread going now Front desk folks are also lovely and have made scheduling easy Thanks
First time coming here and I enjoyed every second of it The staff is so nice and welcoming They make Read More the visit fun Office is super clean as well Big shout out to Karina Katie Zuzu Dr Lina Karolina and Stephanie for making my visit easy Will definitely be coming back and I highly recommend this office
