Oral cancer screening is a routine part of a dental examination. Regular check-ups, including a thorough examination of the entire mouth, are important for the early detection of cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions. You may have a tiny, but dangerous, oral spot or sore and not be aware of it.
Many of the symptoms of oral cancer can be caused by other issues, so it can be very difficult to identify, especially in its early stages. If you notice changes to the tissues in and around your mouth, it’s always best to have them checked by an experienced professional, such as our team at BeDental.
We will carefully examine the inside of your mouth and tongue, and in some 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, but 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.
To ensure that a spot or sore is not dangerous, we may choose to perform a simple test, such as a brush test. A brush test collects cells from a suspicious lesion in the mouth. The cells are sent to a laboratory for analysis. If precancerous cells are found, the lesion can be surgically removed if necessary during a separate procedure. It’s essential to note that all atypical and positive results from a brush test or other screening tests must be confirmed by biopsy.
One of the biggest challenges with oral cancer is that it’s very difficult to properly diagnose in its early stages, when it’s easiest to treat. As part of our commitment to providing the best possible care, our team is proud to offer oral cancer screenings in North Bellmore and Manhasset, NY, with the assistance of VELscope. This specialized system can help identify cell changes much earlier than visual examination alone.
VELscope utilizes a specialized light that is reflected by healthy cells within the mouth, but not by cells exhibiting shape changes consistent with possible oral cancer. By simply shining this light at the mucosa of your mouth, including the tongue, hard and soft palate, throat, floor of the mouth, and inside the cheeks and lips, we can identify potential areas of concern as early as possible so you can get timely treatment with the best possible chance of success.
The VELscope screening system consists of a specialized white light source and a viewing scope that enable your doctor to examine the tissues inside your mouth more closely. Normal tissues will almost glow a bright green color. Abnormal tissue shows up much darker under the special light.
An abnormal screening does not always mean that the patient has cancer. If an abnormal screening occurs, your doctor may schedule a second scan later to see if the dark spots disappear or may choose to perform a gentle, non-invasive brush biopsy to confirm it’s not cancer.
When an area of concern needs closer evaluation, we may recommend the OralCDx Brush Test as an additional screening tool.
This non-invasive test gently collects cells from a suspicious area in the mouth without the need for cutting or needles. The sample is sent to a specialized laboratory where the cells are analyzed for abnormal or precancerous changes. OralCDx helps us gather more information early, allowing us to determine whether further testing or referral is necessary while keeping the process as comfortable as possible for you.
No. An oral cancer screening with VELscope involves simply shining the light on the tissues inside your mouth. We may need to move your lips, tongue, or cheeks to get a closer look, but the entire process is quick and comfortable.
An oral cancer screening typically takes only a few minutes. In addition to the VELscope light, we may also feel the structures of your mouth to check for lumps and texture changes. It’s a simple addition to your routine dental cleanings and check-ups.
Absolutely. VELscope is a completely non-invasive procedure that involves shining a light on the tissues inside your mouth. There are no risks for injury or side effects.
Depending on what we notice during your oral cancer screening, we may take pictures of any unusual findings and send them to specialists for a second opinion. In some cases, we may monitor the area and check for changes.
In others, we may recommend a gentle brush biopsy to examine cells from the area under a microscope, or we may refer you to a specialist for a more detailed biopsy. We’ll always clearly explain our findings and next steps, so you can feel completely confident in getting the care you need.
Yes. VELscope works best when used in conjunction with other methods of detecting oral cancer, such as visual examination and palpation (using hands to feel and gently squeeze or manipulate the tissue).
We look at the tissues in and around your mouth at every visit. We recommend a more focused and thorough oral cancer screening at least once per year to ensure we identify areas of concern as early as possible.
