If there were a quick and painless way to identify pre-cancerous cells in the mouth of someone you loved, would you want them to try it? What if that person were you? At Central Avenue Dental we are proud and excited to offer advanced oral cancer screening technology that works in just minutes! Detecting cancer early is key, that’s why our dentists perform an oral exam at every scheduled dental cleaning – even if you do not notice it.
Bio/Screen Technology
Over 45,000 people are diagnosed each year with oral cancer, and 25% of patients diagnosed with oral cancer have no traditional risk factors! That’s why our dental professionals at Central Avenue Dental in Charlotte are our patients’ first line of defense against oral cancer. With our Bio/Screen technology, we are able to provide better oral cancer screenings in just minutes during your regular 6 month dental check up. There is not even any mouth rinse or special cleaning required! Five violet, high power LEDs and special optical filters cause abnormal cells to appear as dark areas among the bright fluorescence of surrounding healthy tissue—without the need for patient mouth rinses.
Warning Signs of Oral Cancer
If you have experienced any of the below symptoms for an extended period of time, please be sure to ask our dentists to use Bio/Screen technology for your exam and schedule a visit with your primary care physician, as well.
- Reddish or whitish patches in the mouth
- A sore that fails to heal and bleeds easily
- A lump or thickening on the skin lining the inside of the mouth • Chronic sore throat or hoarseness
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing
Those at Greater Risk for Oral Cancer
Passing certain age thresholds and engaging in certain lifestyle habits can place you at increased risk for oral cancer. For example, men tend to have higher rates of oral cancers than women. Here is the short list:
- Patients age 40 and older (95% of all oral cancer cases)
- Patients age 18-39 who use tobacco, are heavy drinkers, or may have a previously diagnosed oral HPV infection.
If you do not keep up with your regular dental visits with us, you could be missing out on the benefits of early cancer detection. Currently, just over half of all those diagnosed with oral cancer survive more than five years – a statistic driven by late diagnosis – so please visit your dentist and get an oral exam at least once a year! If you are considered “high risk,” (see list above) you should be receiving an oral exam at least every six months, if not more frequently. Call our front desk today at 704-900-7301 if you have further questions or would like to schedule your next appointment.
