Oral Cancer Screening

Oral cancer is one of the most curable diseases when it’s caught early. Here at Bean Oak Dental Care, we are continually looking for advances to ensure that we are providing the optimum level of oral health care to our patients. We are naturally concerned about mouth cancer and look for it in every patient during routine examinations.

Did you know…..

• 5 people die of mouth cancer EVERY SINGLE DAY in the UK!
• Late detection of mouth cancer is the primary cause for this increase in the death rate.
• AGE is the primary risk factor for mouth cancer.
• TOBACCO AND ALCOLHOL use are other risk factors
• 25% of all mouth cancer victims have NO LYFESTYLE RIKS FACTORS.
• Increased risk: Patients aged 18-39
  High risk: Patients aged 40 and older; tobacco users.
  Highest risk: Patients aged 40 and older with lifestyle factors (tobacco and /or alcohol users); previous HPV(human pappiloma virus) infection; previous history of mouth cancer.

We have recently incorporated Vizilite Plus into our oral screening standard of care. We find that using Vizilite Plus, along with a standard mouth cancer examination, improves our ability to identify suspicious areas at their earliest stages. Vizilite Plus is similar to proven early detection procedures for other cancers such as mammography (breast cancer), cervical smear (cervical cancer) and PSA tests (prostate cancer).

Vizilite plus is a simple and painless examination that gives the best chance to find any oral abnormalities at the earliest possible stage. Early detection of pre-cancerous tissue can minimise or eliminate the potential disfiguring effects of mouth cancer and the possibly save your life!

Please ask your dentist at your next appointment if you would like to know more.