For years now, you’ve heard it’s important to see your dentist every six months for a teeth cleaning. However, this isn’t just to prevent dental decay, gum disease, and other related problems. Dental professionals can also identify the early warning signs of conditions like oral cancer. Thanks to innovations like the VELscope® screening process, their ability to diagnose this illness is stronger than ever. Here’s why you should ask your dental care team about this diagnostic tool.

State-of-the-Art Technology

VELscope® relies on advanced technology, but the process itself is relatively simple. A dental professional essentially shines a blue light into the patient’s mouth. Thanks to Fluorescence Visualization, the spectrum of light reveals irregularities that may indicate the presence of oral cancer. More importantly, the light reveals anomalies that would otherwise be undetectable to the naked eye. Therefore, your dentist can offer a diagnosis earlier than usual, allowing you to start treatment before the disease progresses to a more dangerous stage.

Additional Benefits

Although the VELscope® system is designed primarily for diagnosing oral cancer, that’s not the only reason it’s useful. Because this method allows dental care teams to see irregularities in oral surfaces they might otherwise miss, it can also confirm whether or not all diseased tissue has been removed after your treatment. This means, there’s less of a chance you’ll have to return to the clinic for a second round of excavation.

When your dental professional uses the right tools, you benefit tremendously. That’s why it’s smart to ask about this new technology. If you’re looking for a dentist who offers VELscope® cancer screening services, get in touch with Joy K. Lunan, DDS, serving the Middlebury, CT, area for more than 20 years. Contact her office online to learn about becoming a patient, or call (203) 598-7920.