Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry
310 23rd Ave. N., Nashville TN 37203
VELscope: It Could Save Your Life
ORAL CANCER
Each year , over 35,000 Americans contract some form of oral cancer. 7,000 of those die from this disease. The earlier the disease is identified and treatment is begun, the better the chances of full recovery.
This is why we recommend regular oral cancer screening exams which is done with each regular checkup appointment with us.
RISK FACTORS
- Males are 2 times more likely than females to contract oral cancer. Since you cannot change your gender, what this means is that it is even more important not to miss a dental checkup twice yearly.
- Any type of tobacco usage, including pipe, cigars, cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products greatly increases the likelihood you might get oral cancer. Like anything else, the higher the frequency of usage, the greater the risk.
- Alcohol consumption increases your risk for any type of oral cancer.
- Practice safe sex. Unless you have practiced monogamous sex for years, your partner must wear a condom every time or you must totally abstain from oral sex altogether. Otherwise, we will have more and more people transmitting HPV, which is the latest cause of oral cancer.
HOW CANCER STARTS
Cancer arises when a normal cell in your body mutates or changes for some reason and then begins to reproduce itself in the form of more abnormal cells. This happens long before you can visualize any signs or symptoms in your body. We offer a new and innovative piece of technology to detect these cells . It is called Velscope and it is an ultra high intensity light source .
Scientists have found that abnormal cells reflect a certain wavelength of light that normal cells do not. The Velscope light emits this wavelength of ‘alternative light source’ that we shine in your mouth. While the Velscope does not determine whether you have cancer cells or not, it does allow us to tell you if you have any abnormal cells before it is noticeable to the trained naked eye. This is when the ‘early detection’ phrase comes in to play.
Since the Velscope highlights the subsurface abnormal cells, the machine allows us to focus on any abnormal cells well before anyone would have been able to see it with visible light or their eyes.
Not every abnormal cell is destined to become a cancer cell. If your mouth is healing from a cut, mouth ulcer, burn or fever blister or anywhere the tissue is in the healing stage, these cells will be highlighted by the Velscope just like the dangerous pre-malignant cells do. What we try to do is to protect your health as early and completely as possible is to then do a very easy, noninvasive ‘brush biopsy’ which consists of rubbing the suspicious area gently with a wire brush. This harvests some of the suspicious cells on a microscope slide and the lab tells us exactly what kind of cells are present. If the cells are normal wounded cells, we do nothing. If they come labeled as ‘pre-malignant or neoplastic’, these cells become our ‘target areas’. We then refer you to a specialist where a small wedge of tissue is removed and we have then just ‘nipped it in the bud’. Remember, the earlier the detection, the better. That is exactly how the Velscope give us an added edge to protect the health of your mouth.
INSURANCE, COSTS, AND OTHER INFO
Since insurance companies do not yet cover cancer screenings (they do cover expenses for cancer treatment!), we are offering this service at the low fee of $50. We recommend it be performed annually for all adults over 18. To read more details about this exciting innovation, check out Velscope. com and also check out Dr. Oz who recently broadcasted a segment on oral cancer and the value of the Velscope.