Oral cancer can be extremely dangerous, and it is necessary for patients to undergo routine screenings to identify what may be cancerous tissue at its earliest stages. While symptoms for oral cancer include white lesions or other irregularities inside the mouth, cancerous or precancerous cells may be present without clear visible indications. In order to visualize potentially dangerous areas that may not be noticeable to the naked eye, our Bethesda dentists can provide an oral cancer screening with the VELscope® Vx Enhanced Oral Assessment System.
Oral Cancer Screening Process
Oral cancer screenings are completely painless and take just a few minutes to complete. During the exam, Dr. Deborah Klotz or Dr. Robert Schlossberg will use the advanced VELscope® Vx system to shine a powerful blue light inside your mouth. As opposed to traditional methods that use tissue reflectance to indicate abnormalities, the VELscope® Vx utilizes tissue fluorescence—an innovative technique that causes unhealthy and/or abnormal tissues to naturally illuminate when stimulated by the particular wavelength of light being emitted by the device. This innovative method of screening eliminates the need for any dyes and prolonged testing that may become irritating or uncomfortable.
In the event irregular tissues are present, the visible fluorescence stimulated by the VELscope® Vx light can reveal information regarding activity on a cellular, structural, and/or metabolic level, helping our dentists more accurately identify signs of pre-cancer or cancer. Erring on the side of caution, Dr. Deb and Dr. Rob will advise you on any actions you might need to take should they be suspicious of any tissue abnormalities discovered during your exam.
Ultimately, it is vitally important that you have oral cancer screenings each year, as survival rates for oral cancer increase dramatically when the problem is caught early!
Contact Bethesda Sedation Dentistry
For more information about oral cancer screening, or if you would like to schedule an appointment at our office, please contact Bethesda Sedation Dentistry today.
