About 30,000 Americans contract oral cancer yearly, and only 57% of these people will live beyond five years with treatment. This silent killer has killed more people than testicular cancer, cervical cancer, and cancer of the brain ever did.

They can sometimes be inevitable depending on your genes since people with healthy lifestyles that also abstained from tobacco and alcohol can battle with this condition. Getting your annual oral cancer screening is the only surest way to protect yourself.

It’s not a big deal, so you don’t need to panic. It takes 1 – 2 minutes for your dentist to screen your oral cavity for cancerous cells. Most dentists perform this diagnosis using the FDA-approved VELscope. It is a blue lamp that highlights precancerous and cancerous cell changes.

How a VELscope work

This cutting-edge device uses Fluorescence Visualization (FV) in an exciting way. Typically, your dentist will shine the blue light into your mouth, and the light gets absorbed by the soft tissues. As a result, the healthy areas will indicate green, while the problem areas will become darker.

Here’s how a VELscope works:

• It can work alongside digital photography
• It can identify lesions, white and red patches
• It can detect problems in areas unseen by the naked eye
• Exposes precancerous and cancerous cells
• FDA approved
• Help diagnose cancer in its early stages
• Quick, painless examination

VELscope astounding results

The World Health Organisation recognizes VELscope as an innovative medical device that addresses global health concerns in a very cost-effective and user-friendly manner. Dentists are now reporting excellent results, proving that the VELscope technology is a necessary tool.

If you’re over 40, you’re at significant risk of oral cancer compared to other age groups. At the same time, genetic factors play a crucial role.

Moreover, it affects more than twice as many men as women. These risk factors are not within your control, making annual oral screening necessary. It will be detected early and treated if there is a sign. When cancers are discovered early, your survival rate joins to over 80 – 90 percent.

Fighting oral cancer

Research shows that smoking is a common culprit for oral cancer, including alcohol and extended sun exposure. However, you can turn these around by quitting smoking, drinking alcohol, and wearing sunscreen and lip balm daily.

Here at Oakland Dental Arts, we strive to provide the best possible service with an accurate diagnosis. We are constantly investing in the latest dental technologies to make your time a relaxing one.

If you’re yet to run your annual oral screen, feel free to give us a call, or you can book an appointment using our contact form.