In addition to gum disease, periodontal problems, cavities,
teeth bleaching and getting a dental crown, there's just
one more thing that you should be aware of when it comes to
dental health and dental care. Oral cancer, which is cancer
of the soft tissue of the mouth.
When it is caught early by your dentist or periodontist,
oral cancer can be cured. In fact it is one of the most
curable diseases when it is caught in early stages. In
just a few minutes one time a year, people can now protect
themselves. When found early, oral cancer treatment is 90
percent successful.
The American Cancer Society estimates that there is a 5.5
percent increase in new cases of oral cancer, along with a
1.5 percent increase in deaths associates with oral cancer.
You probably are wondering if you are at risk for oral
cancer. And the answer is, yes, almost everyone is at risk.
25 percent of oral cancers occur in people who do not smoke
and have no other lifestyle risk factors. High risk
patients include people who are age 40 or older with
lifestyle risk factors include tobacco use, chronic alcohol
use of at least two ounces of alcohol three times per week
and human papilloma virus (HPV), a common sexually
transmitted infection prevalent in young adults. In other
words, virtually anyone is at risk.
The good news is that dentists can now use new technology
in the way of a dental screening, in combination with a
conventional visual exam, to find out if you have oral
cancer. Quick and painless, an annual oral exam is
performed just after a regular visual examination by your
dental professional. It can be part of a periodontics exam.
Dentists can use new products on the market like ViziLite
Plus, a cancer screening technology. First the patient
rinses with a cleaning solution, and then the dental
professional examines the patient's mouth using ViziLite,
which is a specially designed light technology. If there is
a suspicious lesion, it is marked with a T-Blue blue dye,
and then it's documented.
According to oral surgeons, it works. "I am now
incorporating the new screenings with most of my at risk
patients, said Dr. Bijan Afar, a Los Angeles oral surgeon.
"Specifically we can detect oral abnormalities such as
premalignant lesions and oral cancer."
Today, there's no reason not to ask your own periodontist
dentist about this simple, potentially life saving
screening exam.
----------------------------------------------------
Kristin Gabriel is a social media marketing writer and PR
professional. Her client, Dr. Bijan Afar, a Los Angeles
dentist and oral surgeon, owns five dental clinics,
including the Wilshire Dental Clinic. For more information,
visit http://www.oralimplants.com
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