CUMMING, Ga., July 26, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Montes Periodontics and Implant Dentistry announced that the practice is offering oral cancer screenings in conjunction with annual appointments and new patient visits. The practice uses the VELscope machine to screen for the symptoms of oral cancer. The VELscope oral assessment system features a handheld scope to help clinicians see oral mucosal abnormalities that might otherwise be overlooked during a visual screening. This includes detecting viral, fungal and bacterial infections as well as cancer and pre-cancer. According to dentist Dr. Montes, the VELscope is the top of its class for diagnostic equipment and makes it easier to detect oral cancer in its earlier stages.
Montes Periodontics and Implant Dentistry of Cumming, Georgia, cautions that early detection of oral cancer is critical for a successful prognosis.
"If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, the five-year survival rate is only 32 percent," said Dr. Shelly Montes. "In contrast, if the cancer is detected before it spreads, the five-year survival rate is 83 percent, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Our goal is to improve early detection rates so more patients have a positive outcome. With timely treatment, the number of deaths from oral cancer could be significantly reduced."
Dr. Montes says she conducts routine oral cancer screenings in conjunction with annual check-ups and new patient exams. Dr. Montes uses the VELscope for oral exam assessment, which is one of the most technologically advanced oral diagnostic tools currently available, according to the dentist.
Montes Periodontics warns that white lesions and red lesions could be precursors to oral cancer should these lesions not naturally resolve themselves within two weeks. Other symptoms include a lump or thickening in the oral soft tissues, difficulty chewing or swallowing, ear pain, and unexplained swelling of the jaw.
"Our goal is to provide superior care for our patients' oral health needs," said Dr. Montes. "That's why we use the VELscope for our oral cancer screenings. The wireless, handheld scope uses natural tissue fluorescence visualization, which makes it easier to see abnormalities that could otherwise have been overlooked. The easier it is to identify possible cancerous spots, the more we can do to help our patients maintain their oral health and take proactive steps to treat any problems as they develop."
More than 25 million VELscope exams have been performed by 12,000 dental practitioners in 23 countries, according to LED Dental, which owns VELscope. VELscope is approved by the World Health Organization for oral disease diagnostic visualization. It is currently used to screen for the following oral health conditions: viral, fungal and bacterial infections; inflammation; squamous papilloma; salivary gland tumors; and cancer and pre-cancer.
For more information on oral cancer screenings, visit http://montesperiodontics.com/
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/oralhealth/Topics/OralCancer/DetectingOralCancer.htm