Our Updated VELscope Oral Cancer Screening Device

Some may wonder why it is important to screen for oral cancer. We may not hear of it very often. It is not highly publicized. However, oral cancer is the 11th cause of cancer deaths. The early detection of oral cancer can enhance survival rates by up to 25%.  So while we have been providing visual exams for oral cancer since my practice began in 1986, we started to provide an additional layer of early detection around 2002 with the Vizilite Oral Screening System. We have become convinced now that the VELscope Tissue Fluorescence Visualization System is now the best device for early detection of oral cancer.
The VELscope system has been cleared by the US FDA and by the World Health Organization for early detection of oral cancer. It is now the world’s most widely used device for the early detection of oral cancer. As of the posting date of this article, over 25 million exams have been performed, over 12,000 dental practitioners use this device, and it is used in 23 countries for the early detection of oral cancer.
Moreover, the VELscope device is backed by many clinical studies and it has won many awards.
The procedure itself is easy. The VELscope device emits a certain spectrum of blue light which causes the oral tissues to fluoresce. The quality of the fluorescence can be used to differentiate healthy oral tissues from unhealthy or differing oral tissues. A difference does not mean that oral cancer exists; a difference must be further evaluated to determine why the difference exists. At times we may need to refer patients to an oral surgeon for further evaluation. Again, the referral means we still must determine the rationale for the difference in the fluorescence. A diagnosis for oral cancer can only be definitively made with a biopsy which may or may not be needed depending on the situation.
To continue with the procedure itself, the exam with the blue light takes about two minutes. No dyes are needed and there is no need to rinse with a vinegar-like solution with this system. Any areas of concern can be easily photographed for documentation with digital images for future reference or for sharing with a referral to an oral surgeon if needed.
Again, our aim is to provide for the early detection of oral cancer. We deeply care for our patients and their oral health as well as their general health. If you have any questions about this please let us know. If you are interested in an examination within my office we invite you to also contact us. We can be reached by phone at (972) 250-2580, or by any other method you see available within this web page. We thank you for your interest.