Oral Cancer Screenings
Oral Cancer Screenings
| Oral Cancer screenings (ADA code D0431) are one of the "minimal diagnostic procedures". In recent years the dental profession has been emphasizing the importance of cancer screenings during routine exams. Research demonstrates that oral cancer isn't specific for patients that may have certain risk factors (i.e. smoking, tobacco use, etc.), but can afflict anyone living a healthy lifestyle- like prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women. When not detected until visible in the mouth, oral cancer will require comprehensive, debilitating, and sometimes disfiguring treatment. Chances of it being fatal become very strong as well.. There are various modalities available for the screening of oral cancer. This office uses Vizilite (www.vizilite.com). With this method patients rinse for 1 minute with a 1.0% acetic acid solution. The mouth is then examined with a special light. The purpose is to try to detect lesions that normal vision may not pick up. If this occurs appropriate action- usually a referral to an oral surgeon- will be taken. Oral cancer screenings are conducted: A. Once per year B. For all patients 18 and older. If you have any questions Dr. Schwartz will be happy to discuss them with you. He can even direct you to research articles with more information about oral cancer and the various pre-diagnostic screening tools. |
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| Contemporary & Laser Dentistry 502 Franklin Ave. Nutley, N.J. 07110 (973)-661-5050 annette@contemporaryandlaser dentistry.com |
