Oral Cancer Screening


WHAT IS ORAL CANCER

At Cedar Pearl Dentistry we are committed to providing our patients with all of the latest technology for Oral Cancer Screening. We use a highly specialized light source instrument to detect oral cancer in the mouth. Look at our Video to explain how it works.

What should you know about Oral Cancer?

Oral Cancer is growing at an alarming rate. Oral Cancer is more deadly than Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer and Prostrate Cancer, and kills one person every hour of every day! Oral Cancer was once only associated with heavy smokers or drinkers, but Oral Cancer is being found in frightening rates in non-smokers and non-drinkers alike.

Exposure to the HPV-16 and HPV-18 (human papilloma virus) is the fastest growing risk factor for Oral Cancer. This is the same virus that is responsible for the majority of cervical cancers in women. The virus presents a 5x increase in occurrence of Oral under the age of 40, and it has been recommended that all patients over the age of 17 be screened annually.

THE TEST

The test is quite simple, painless and takes less than 5 minutes. At Cedar Pearl Dentistry we use the Identafi 3000 ultra in the white light mode to look at all of the surfaces of the mouth.

The instrument is then switched to a "Florescent Violet Light" to identify any areas of abnormal tissue growth, which may be benign or cancerous.

Finally, the instrument is switched to “Green-Amber Reflectance Light” to examine blood vessels around any lesions that might be found. Lesions with abnormal growth are more likely to be malignant. Please speak with any of our staff regarding our comprehensive oral cancer screening.

Oral cancer most commonly involves:

  • the front 2/3 of the tongue,
  • . . .
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