Mortality rates associated with oral cancer have remained unchanged for over thirty years, partly, due to the limitations of the conventional white light examination of the mouth.

There is now an improved oral screening procedure that allows the dentist to more accurately identify tissue changes at and below the surface before they become apparent using the traditional white light technique.

Gage Dentistry has invested in a screening device called the VELscope which uses the latest technology to help early detection of inflammation, infection, cancerous and precancerous tissue. The assessment and screening results are immediate.

The VELscope is a handheld tool that emits a safe blue light into the mouth. The blue light causes the layers of tissue in the mouth to change color and these color changes provide the dentist with an effective means of differentiating between normal and abnormal tissue. This process is particularly sensitive to the signs of disease, and as with any other cancers; early detection and treatment offer the best opportunity for satisfactory results.

The VELscope procedure is safe, painless, non-invasive, and uses no rinses or stains. The VELscope System is cleared by Health Canada for use:

• To help discover cancerous and precancerous tissue that might not be apparent to the naked eye, and:
• To help surgeons ensure that all targeted diseased tissue is removed if surgery is indicated.

Although the odds are that you are free of cancerous or precancerous lesions, the screening is a smart precaution – just as mammogram and prostrate exams are used for early detection and preventative care.

Gage Dentistry strongly encourages every patient to consider including a VELscope exam in the routine of their hygiene checkup. There is a $10.00 fee for the VELscope examination. For more information, please see www.velscope.com.

Please view the video below to get a better understanding of the Velscope oral cancer screening process: