Sohail Vyas¹, Manjiri Chakor², Hoorieh Sadat Alamolhoda³, Karen Ojeda⁴, Shilpi Deshpande⁵, Happy Parth Shah⁶, Ridhi Bhola^7,

Oral cancer remains a significant global public health challenge, with increasing incidence rates, particularly among younger populations. Despite advancements in treatment, survival outcomes continue to be poor, largely due to delayed diagnosis and limited public awareness. Early detection improves prognosis, enhances survival rates, and minimises treatment-related complications. Most oral cancers are preceded by visible premalignant lesions, making them potentially detectable through routine clinical examinations.Systematic visual and oral examinations have proven to be both practical and effective in identifying early-stage disease in asymptomatic individuals. This review explores the epidemiology and risk factors associated with oral cancer, examines current screening strategies and public health interventions, and discusses future innovations, including salivary diagnostics, artificial intelligence, and mobile health technologies, that may transform early detection and management. Emphasis is placed on the need for multidisciplinary collaboration and improved public and professional awareness to shift the diagnostic window towards earlier stages of the disease.

Artificial Intelligence, Epidemiology, Oral Cancer screening, Oral examination, Risk Factors