Failure to diagnose oral cancer is one of the top malpractice lawsuits and is becoming more prevalent with the increase in incidence of oral cancer. For this reason, effective screening techniques have become a very important component of our clinical exam. Several factors, such as history of tobacco use, alcohol use and/or prior head and neck malignancy are significant contributory factors in the risk of developing cancer. This course will discuss patient risks, screening, early detection and its positive influence on outcomes.