New Technology Helping To Detect Early Signs Of Oral Cancer

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New technology is helping dentists to detect early warning signs of oral cancer.

Chris Adams, from Rose Dental in Southwest Austin, said that the statistics for oral cancer are alarming, with more and more people under the age of 50 being diagnosed with the disease; however, developments in technology, such as the VELscope, are enabling dentists to diagnose cases at an earlier stage when treatment is more likely to be successful.

The VELscope instrument bathes the mouth in a bright blue light, making warning signs, such as swellings, sores and red and white patches in the mouth, more visible; when the blue light hits the soft tissues, normal, healthy tissue appears green, while diseased tissue becomes much darker in colour.

James Foley, from South Austin, has a family history of cancer and he attends regular dental screenings; he said that many people don’t think their mouth is at risk of cancer, but oral cancer is becoming more common and it’s important that people see their dentist on a regular basis to ensure that cases are diagnosed as early as possible. When oral cancer is diagnosed early, the chances of survival are up to 90 per cent higher.

Chris Adams said that oral cancer is a major concern because the profile of victims is changing; in the past, oral cancer nearly always affected older people who smoked and drank; however, more and more young non-smokers are being diagnosed with the disease. Adams said that tools such as the VELscope are vital in the fight against oral cancer, but added that it was extremely important that patients took the responsibility of visiting their dentist on a regular basis and kept an eye out for symptoms.

 

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