Oral Cancer Screening
Better Image Dentistry encourages all our patients to have an oral cancer screening. It’s quick and painless – and it could even save your life. We use Velscope during our exam. A painless blue light that allows us to identify suspicious lesions much early than a simple visual exam alone.
Consider these statistics:
- In the United States, 30,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer each year – and 8,000 will die from it.
- Your risk of developing oral cancer increases with tobacco use or consumption of more than 3 oz. of alcohol per day (equivalent to two beers a week).
- About one of every two people diagnosed with oral cancer will survive for five years.
Oral cancer is a dangerous disease. In its early stages, it is often painless, and many people do not experience any obvious physical symptoms. Because of this, oral cancer is often discovered when it has advanced too far to treat effectively.
Dr. Fairweather can check for early signs of oral cancer during your regular dental checkup. During your oral cancer screening, he will perform a visual and tactile examination of the inside of your mouth and the underside of your chin and neck. He and his staff may also use the VELscope® Oral Cancer Screening System to check for any abnormalities in the tissue that are not visible to the naked eye. If we detect any possible problems, we may ask you to return for another exam or take a simple biopsy to check for cancerous or pre-cancerous tissues.
In most cases, your screening will show that there is nothing to worry about – and in just a few minutes, you’ll have the peace of mind that an oral cancer screening can provide. For more information or to schedule an oral cancer screening as part of your regular dental examination, contact Better Image Dentistry today!
Risk Factors for Oral Cancer
- Tobacco use (in all forms)
- Alcohol consumption
- Unprotected sun exposure
- Low intake of fruits and vegetables
- Chewing or smoking betel nut or bidis
- Age (older people tend to develop more cancers)
- HPV viral infection
- Race, ethnicity and economics (people who are African-American, who live in areas with poor access to health care, or who do not regularly visit a dentist or doctor for economic reasons are more likely to develop oral cancers)
- Previous occurrence of head or neck cancer
- Gender (males are more likely to develop oral cancer)
Things You Can Do to Reduce Your Risk of Getting Oral Cancer
- Don’t smoke or use tobacco
- Reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption
- Always apply sunscreen (at least 30 SPF) to lips and face before sun exposure
- Eat more fruits and vegetables
- For women: be tested for HPV infection
- Ask your dentist for an annual oral cancer screening!
Sources:
1. U.S. Dept. of Heath and Human Services. Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, Rockville, MD, National Institutes of Health, 2000.
2. Facts of Oral Cancer. American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA.
3. Oral Cancer: What is your Risk? American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA.
4. Mashberg A Samit AM. Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Management of Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer. CA Cancer Journal for Clinicians.