Phoenix Oral Cancer Screening
Get A Free Oral Cancer Screening
Come in for your routine exam and cleaning, and we will provide a free oral cancer screening now through April 30.
Oral Cancer Prevention
Oral Cancer Is More Common Than You Realize
This is why we strongly urge you to have a more advanced oral cancer screening.
It is estimated by the American Cancer Society that nearly 56,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer. And the American Cancer Society estimates that 13,500 people will die from these cancers.
Oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancers are found twice as often in men than in women.
These cancers can occur in young people, but they are more often diagnosed at age 62. However, over a quarter who are age 55 or younger are diagnosed with it. Additionally, children are rarely diagnosed with these cancers.
Oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers can usually be found in the following areas:
- Gums, floor of mouth, and in other areas of the mouth
- Oropharynx and tonsils
- Tongue
- Lips, and the minor salivary glands
Importance of Oral Cancer Screening
Oral Cancer Screening Demonstration
Risk Factors for Oral Cancer
- Ultraviolet light: People who work outdoors or are highly exposed to sunlight are more prone to lip cancers. Also, poor nutrition plays a contributing factor. Diets low in vegetables and fruits can increase the risk of oral and oropharynx cancers.
- Tobacco use: Roughly 80% of people with oropharyngeal or oral cancers smoke cigarettes, chew tobacco or use snuff.
- Alcohol: Nearly 70% of people diagnosed with oral cancer are heavy drinkers. The risk increases among those who use both alcohol and tobacco.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection: Human papilloma viruses, or HPV are also causes of oral and oropharyngeal cancers. About 25% of patients with these cancers are infected with the same HPV as are seen in with cervical cancer.
- Immune system suppression: Immune system suppression drugs used to prevent organ transplant rejection or drugs to treat some immune diseases, could also increase the risk of oral cancer.
For your peace of mind, stay on track with your dental exams, and schedule your cancer screening today.
ViziLite® Plus Can Save Lives
Although we provide a standard oral cancer screening as part of your comprehensive dental exam, this procedure is not always enough for the naked eye to see. For this reason, we use a more advanced method of prevention called ViziLite® TBlue. This system helps us identify, evaluate, monitor, and mark if there are any hard to see suspicious or abnormal cell lesions in your mouth like precancerous and cancerous cells. Also, with the ViziLite® TBlue device there is a reduced number of false positive lesions identified while providing the standard visual oral cancer examination. This helps to limit unnecessary biopsies.
This simple and painless procedure takes just two minutes. The clinically-proven device is also disposable, so there is never a concern for cross-contamination and improves infection control.
