Oral Cancer Screening in Manchester, NH

Stop oral cancer in its tracks with professional VELscope cancer screening in Manchester, New Hampshire! Every year, oral cancer results in more deaths than brain cancer and cervical cancer. Yet, it receives far less recognition than most other forms of the disease. The lack of awareness surrounding oral cancer makes it much deadlier than it should be.

At Mann Family Dental, we know all too well that a two-minute VELscope screening can mean the difference between life and death. Make sure you have your mouth inspected for various forms of oral cancer so we can put an end to this silent epidemic.

What Is VELscope Cancer Screening?

Detect oral cancer in the early stages with a VELscope cancer screening in Manchester, New Hampshire! The VELscope Vx handheld scanner represents a state-of-the-art technological tool that allows dentists to catch various forms of oral cancer and precancerous lesions before they spread. With a VELscope unit, oral cancer screening becomes a quick, simple, and painless process.

What Does a VELscope Do?

A VELscope Vx emits a bright blue light into the patient’s oral cavity, revealing abnormalities in the otherwise healthy soft tissue of the mouth. Healthy tissue will reflect a medium blue color, whereas cancerous and precancerous lesions will appear quite dark. A VELscope can detect abnormal pathologies on the tongue, palate, cheeks, and various glands found in the mouth.

In some cases, oral cancer has already progressed too far by the time it becomes evident during a standard visual inspection. The VELscope provides dentists with an early warning system that buys patients valuable extra time to seek the appropriate cancer treatment.

What Are the Benefits of VELscope Cancer Screening?

Catching oral cancer before it spreads represents just one of several benefits provided by VELscope cancer screening. VELscope offers many other advantages over traditional cancer screening. Some of the main benefits include:

• Early oral cancer and precancer detection
• Detection of lesions invisible in white light
• Post-biopsy screening to ensure complete cancer removal
• Fast, pain-free screening
• Ease-of-use
• Clear screening results
• FDA-approved

Detecting cancer early and removing it via biopsy allows patients to avoid more invasive surgeries, harmful radiation, and the side effects of chemotherapy. It only takes a few minutes to scan a patient’s mouth and remove any lesions found to prevent cancer from spreading.

How Often Should I Receive a VELscope Cancer Screening?

The frequency at which a patient should seek out VELscope cancer screening depends on a person’s age. Patients between the ages of 20 and 40 should visit our dental office once every three years for screening. Individuals over the age of 40 should receive a VELscope cancer screening every year.

What Are Some of the Risk Factors for Oral Cancer?

Lessen your risk of developing oral cancer by making good lifestyle choices. Age and lifestyle represent the main contributing risk factors for cancer of the mouth, tongue, and salivary glands. Understanding the dangerous consequences of certain dietary habits, genetic predispositions, and other considerations can help patients reduce the chances of a cancer diagnosis.

Some of the main risk factors for oral cancer include:

• Advancing age
• Tobacco and alcohol
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Fair skin and excessive sun exposure
• Poor oral hygiene routines
• Weak immune system
• Insufficient nutrition

What Does a VELscope Cancer Screening Entail?

A VELscope cancer screening proves quick, pain-free, and non-invasive. To begin the procedure, the dentist will visually inspect the patient’s mouth, tongue, and face. Then, the dentist will give the patient special eyewear to protect against the intense blue light of the VELscope. After the dentist turns down the lights, the VELscope screening begins.

The dentist will shine the blue light inside the patient’s mouth and look for any dark spots. If the dentist notices an indication of abnormal soft tissue, a biopsy may represent the next step. The dentist will send the patient home to heal up while a pathologist analyzes the tissue sample.

If the biopsy results come back negative, the patient will not need to come back to the dental office. However, in the case of a positive result, the dentist will call the patient back for further screening with the VELscope.

Call Mann Family Dental for a VELscope Cancer Screening Today

Have you never undergone a VELscope cancer screening in Manchester, New Hampshire? Schedule an appointment with one of our friendly staff members at Mann Family Dental by dialing 603-625-9823 today!