With the prevalence of cancer diagnosis in our age and advances in technology to screen for cancers, such as oral cancer, some patients are still at risk of late stage cancer where dentists choose not to use oral cancer screening technology.
Early cancer screening means treatment interventions may be provided before advanced cancer renders treatment ineffective and vastly shortening lifespan. Oral cancer detection technology, such as tissue fluorescence visualization, has evolved with clinical research in oral disease prevention.
Originally, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded the BC-based Cancer Agency and LED Dental in use of this technology for oral cancer screening. Where dentists have relied on their eyes to detect cancer previously, many clinicians in American now use cancer detection technology, such as the VELscope system, for accurate cancer identification often missed by the naked eye.
Although readily available, some practices choose not to invest in such life-enhancing technology because of four main reasons: One – a perception that early stage oral cancer detection is unnecessary; Two – a lesion detected may be non-cancerous or a “false-positive”; Three – the dentist does not wish to inform a patient they have cancer; Four – efficacy of oral cancer detection technology is believed to be unproven.
Dental professionals using oral cancer screening technology are able to screen for legions which may or may not be cancerous, for viral and bacterial infections, and for fungal conditions. The technology easily integrates within practices, allowing early treatment provision before oral health deteriorates into late stage diagnosis, reducing quality of life. Use of such non-invasive devices enables patients to receive the care they need for improved health and contributes to reducing oral cancer morbidity. Dentists benefit from patient confidence and increased revenue streams.