Oral cancer screenings are often an omitted element of physical assessments in the elderly. This cancer is usually painless until it begins to invade other structures, and many older patients have limited access to dental care from lack of finances, transportation, or perceived importance of dental care. Seniors visit their primary care practitioner 5-7 times more often than their dentist. Therefore, it is important for NPs to recognize potential problems during routine examinations, rather than infrequent dental visits