Oral Cancer Detection Technology

Approximately 34,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year: it will cause more than 8,000 deaths. Of the newly diagnosed patients, only half will be alive in five years, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation. Survival has not significantly improved in decades.

The death rate for oral cancer is higher than for cervical cancer, Hodgkin's disease, and cancer of the brain, liver, testes, kidney or skin (malignant melanoma).

Early detection is essential in increasing the survival rate for oral cancer. Symptoms include a mouth sore that fails to heal or that bleeds easily; a white or red patch in the mouth that may not be painful but will not go away; a lump, thickening or soreness in the mouth, throat or tongue; and difficulty chewing or swallowing food.

Regular dental check-ups, including an examination of the entire mouth, are essential in the early detection of cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions. You may have a very small, but dangerous, oral spot or sore and not be aware of it.

During your dental check up, Dr. Mawyer and the hygienist will carefully examine all areas of your mouth. In about 10% of patients, we may notice a flat, painless, white or red spot or a small sore. Although most of these are harmless, some are not. Harmful oral spots or sores often look identical to those that are harmless - testing can tell them apart. If you have a sore with a likely cause, we may treat it and ask you to return for re-examination.

Dr. Mawyer and his hygienist also use the latest technology in oral cancer detection called the Velscope, www.velscope.com. This newly FDA approved device utilizes tissue fluorescence to visualize abnormal cells before they even reach the surface of the tissue. It is of the utmost importance for Dr. Mawyer and his team to keep up with the latest technology in order to ensure your dental health.