Why Get Oral Cancer Screening
As we mentioned above, the most important reason to get oral cancer screening is survival. If you get your oral cancer detected early, you have at least an 83% chance of survival (with very early detection, survival rate approaches 100%). Late detection of oral cancer drops the survival rate to only 50%.
Cancer screening can also help because the population of people with oral cancer is changing. At our dental office in Wichita Falls, we recommend regular screenings to detect oral cancer early and improve survival chances. In the past, most people who developed oral cancer had risk factors such as::
- Previous cancer diagnosis
- Tobacco use
- Heavy alcohol use
- Compromised immune system
- Advanced age
But now more people are being diagnosed without any known risk factors. This includes people under the age of 40.
With this changing risk profile, it’s important for everyone to get themselves screened for cancer.
Benefits of VELscope
VELscope is a device used for oral cancer screenings and has significant benefits in both general and preventative dentistry. Here are some key advantages:
- Early Detection of Oral Cancer: VELscope uses fluorescent light to detect abnormalities in the tissue that may indicate oral cancer, which is crucial for early detection. Early detection can significantly improve the success of treatment and increase survival rates.
- Non-Invasive and Quick: The VELscope procedure is painless, non-invasive, and typically takes only a few minutes. It provides instant results, making it an efficient tool for routine screenings.
- Enhanced Visual Inspection: By enhancing the visualization of tissues in the oral cavity, VELscope can help identify subtle changes in soft tissues that may be difficult to detect with the naked eye.
- Easy to Integrate into Routine Exams: VELscope can be easily incorporated into regular dental checkups without requiring additional appointments or procedures. It’s an efficient addition to regular oral exams.
- Increased Patient Confidence: Offering VELscope as part of a comprehensive oral health assessment can help build trust with patients, showing that the practice is committed to their long-term health and proactive care.
- Detection of Pre-Cancerous Lesions: VELscope can identify potential pre-cancerous lesions, allowing dentists to intervene early and prevent the development of full-blown oral cancer.
- Provides an Objective Measure: Unlike traditional visual inspection, VELscope offers a clearer, more objective assessment of potential oral health issues, minimizing the chances of missing a potentially harmful condition.
- Reduces the Need for Biopsy: By identifying areas that require further investigation, VELscope can help prioritize which areas need biopsy, potentially reducing the number of unnecessary biopsies.
- Improves Patient Outcomes: Regular use of VELscope in routine screenings can lead to the identification of oral health problems before they develop into serious conditions, improving patient outcomes through early intervention.
These benefits make VELscope an excellent tool for enhancing oral cancer detection, ensuring that patients receive comprehensive care that prioritizes prevention and early treatment.
How VELscope Works
As we mentioned above, VELscope uses a special light to look for cancerous and precancerous tissue. Under normal light, cancerous tissue can blend in with healthy tissue. It’s very hard to distinguish. But if you change the light, the two types of tissue respond differently. VELscope uses a light that makes healthy tissue glow bright green. Cancerous and precancerous tissue doesn’t glow. This allows us to see suspicious areas that should be investigated further.
This is not a diagnosis of cancer, it’s a potentially cancerous region. You will have to have a biopsy–a small tissue sample–to confirm or deny cancer. We will either perform the biopsy or refer you to an oral surgeon.
If you are looking for a comprehensive dentist who can screen you for cancer during your routine checkup, please call 940-322-2252 today for an appointment with a Wichita Falls, TX dentist at StarImage Dentistry.
