Two dental hospitals in Dublin and Cork are offering patients free mouth examinations on Wednesday to improve awareness of head, neck and mouth cancer.
Members of the public can attend anytime from 9am to 5pm, without an appointment, at the Dublin Dental University Hospital and Cork University Dental Hospital.
There are over 500,00 cases per year of mouth, head or neck cancer, with three people dying each week in Ireland
The main risk factors are alcohol consumption and smoking.
Among the main symptoms are a sore or ulcer in the mouth that does not heal, white or red patches in the mouth or a lump in the mouth or neck.
According to doctors, most patients present for treatment when their cancer is at an advanced stage, reducing the chances of survival or full recovery.
Dean of Dublin Dental University Hospital Professor June Nunn has encouraged anyone with any anxieties to take up the offer.
Professor Nunn said that even those with no teeth and dentures should have check-ups as abnormalities can be present in the gums.
There will also be educational areas with poster displays and staff available to advise of helpful products related to the event.
