ADVANCED ORAL CANCER SCREENING

Early detection is critical in cancer prevention and control. Patients at Pendleton Family Dental can feel safe and secure that they will receive the latest advancements in oral cancer screening technologies, the VELscope from LED Medical Diagnostics.

Patients rely on dental professionals to be an expert in oral health. Dentists and hygienists are the best overall defense against oral cancer. The key is to identify oral abnormalities at their early, most easily treated, stage of development.

What every person should know about oral cancer:

The incidence of oral cancer is growing.

In the United States, oral cancer will strike about 30,000 people this year; about a third to a half will survive their disease, a rate that has not improved in decades Oral cancer has 3 times as many victims as cervical cancer.

Oral cancer affects men more than women; 2:1, but oral cancer in women is on the rise nationwide.

The biggest growth in oral cancer is among young non-smokers, and oral cancer is now liked to HPV. Though tobacco and alcohol use are the primary lifestyle risk factors that contribute to the development of oral cancer, 27% of oral cancer victims do not use tobacco or alcohol, and have no lifestyle risk factors.

As is the case with most cancers, age is the primary risk factor for oral cancer. Approximately 90% of oral cancer victims are age 40 and older, recent studies indicate that increasingly, patients younger than age 40 are being diagnosed with oral cancer.

VELscope and examination:

The clinician shines the blue excitation light into the patient’s oral cavity and looks through the Handpiece.

Developed in partnership with the British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA). the VELscope oral cancer screening technology is comprised of a light source, light guide, and viewing handpiece. The VELscope Handpiece emits a safe, visible, blue light into the oral cavity, which excites mucosal tissue and causes it to fluoresce. The clinician can examine the oral cavity in real time and quickly identify suspicious tissue that may require further investigation. Typically, healthy tissue shows up as a brighter green color while suspicious tissue can cause a loss of fluorescence, which thus appears dark. When used in combination with traditional oral mucosal examination procedures, VELscope facilitates the discovery and enhances the visualization of mucosal abnormalities.