Oral Screenings with VELscope

By Duke H. Kim, DDS, MAGD

Ballston Dental Arts

. https://www.ballstondentalarts.com/

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Oral Screenings with VELscope

Were you aware that in North America, one person dies every hour from oral cancer? It is estimated that over 36,000 Americans were diagnosed with cancer of oral cavity and pharynx in 2010, and that almost 8,000 were killed by their cancer.

Early detection of oral cancer and pre-cancer is incredibly important; if caught early enough, the condition has a survivability rate of 80 to 90 percent. At present, only 35 percent of diagnosed cases are caught early enough for correct

treatment.

There are new and increasingly effective methods of detection of oral cancer though. One of the most effective methods available right now is called a VELscope.

Your dentist uses the VELscope in order to see what areas of your mouth, lips, and upper throat that may be forming abnormal cells that can be signs of cancer.

The VELscope uses a blue light, which is shown into the open mouth. The light is at a frequency that will naturally cause your oral tissues to become temporarily florescent-this state will only last while the light is shown on your mouth.

Your dentist will wear a specially filtered lens that will allow them to see changes in how the light from your mouth shows, depending on how healthy your cells are.

Healthy cells will show uniformly, and but the reflected pattern from unhealthy cells is notably different. The blue light is gentle and completely safe, but strong enough to penetrate down to the very base of your gum tissue. The VELscope is also powerful enough to find other oral issues such as viral, fungal and bacterial infections.

While every adult should be examined for oral cancer, some groups are at particular risk. If you are over the age of 40 and smoke or drink, you are at an especially increased risk.

Find a dentist who has a VELscope or other similar detection device in their office, and make an appointment to be screened today. The earlier the detection, the earlier the treatment.