ORAL CANCER

Here at The Smile Spa we are constantly looking for ways to improve the standard of care we offer our patients.

A very important, but not often talked about topic, is oral cancer screening. 

We will always carry out visual cancer screening during the  check-up appointment, which we find re-assures our patients. 

We are now able to offer an improved screening service using the VELscope.

The VELscope is a revolutionary hand held device that provides Dentists with an adjunctive mucosal examination system for the early detection of abnormal tissue.

The VELscope handpiece emits a safe blue light into the oral cavity, which excites the tissue from the surface of the epithelium through to the basement membrane and into the cells beneath, causing it to fluoresce.  The clinician is then able to immediately view the different fluorescence responses to help differentiate between normal and abnormal tissue.  The VELscope is the only non-invasive adjunctive device clinically proven to help discover occult oral disease.

The Smile Spa is one of the first practices to be using this amazing piece of equipment.

If you would like any more information about the VELscope please ask one of our team members by calling the practice or visit the website at www.velscope.com. Non registered patients can also benefit from the VELscope.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Oral or mouth cancer most commonly involves the tissue of the lips or the tongue. It may also occur on the floor of the mouth, cheek lining, gingiva (gums), or palate (roof of the mouth). Most oral cancers look very similar under the microscope and are called squamous cell carcinomas. These are malignant and tend to spread rapidly.

Smoking and other tobacco use are associated with 70-80% of oral cancer cases. Smoke and heat from cigarettes, cigars, and pipes irritate the mucous membranes of the mouth. Use of chewing tobacco also causes irritation from direct contact with the mucous membranes. Heavy alcohol use is another high-risk activity associated with oral cancer.

Other risks include poor dental and oral hygiene and chronic irritation (such as that from rough teeth, dentures, or fillings). Some oral cancers begin as leukoplakia or mouth ulcers. Oral cancer accounts for about 8% of all malignant growths.

Did you know that every year in the UK almost 4,700 cases of oral cancer are diagnosed?

• Oral cancer causes more than 1,700 deaths in the UK each year.
• 90% of patients diagnosed in the early stages survive for more than 5 years.
• One third of oral cancers are diagnosed in the mouth cavity.
• More than a quarter of oral cancers are on the tongue.
• 7% are of the lip.
• Risk of oral cancer increases with age.
• 86% occur in people aged 50 and over.
• Oral cancer is more common in men than women.

(Information from Cancer Research)