• Takes another life every hour of every day in United States.
• Higher death rate than laryngeal cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, and cervical cancer.
• 6th most common cancer in the US
• Only form of cancer that has not seen improved survival rates in the last 50 years
• ½ of the 34,000 pts that will be diagnosed with OC this year will die within 5 years
• "forgotten disease"
• 8,000 people die each year in the US alone
• OC low survival rate is due to the difficulty of identifying potentially cancerous lesions with the naked eye
• Age is the primary risk factor, whereas tobacco and alcohol are the other 2 major risk factors. The pt does not have to be a current user though
• More than 25% of OC victims have no lifestyle risk factors
• Researchers are attempting to link HPV 16/18 STD (HPV that is linked to cervical cancer and which Guardasil is used to prevent) with the formation of 20% of oral cancers
• ViziLite and VelScope - 2 adjunctive screening tools that allow dentists to detect soft tissue abnormalities before becoming life-threatening
• ViziLite - as cells become more abnormal, they become dysplastic meaning they become abnormally shaped. The enlarged nucleus reflects light and appears white, indicating the presence of a suspicious lesion
• ViziLite is one of the 2 ADA approved oral cancer screenings that is equivalent to:
  • Mammogram - breast cancer
  • PSA testing - prostate cancer
  • Pap Smear - cervical cancer

In our continuing efforts to provide the most advanced technology and highest quality care available to our patients, Clinton Dental Care is proud to announce the inclusion of the ViziLite Plus exam as an integral part of our annual comprehensive oral cancer screening program.

Dental insurance might not cover this advanced oral cancer screening as an addition to the standard visual examination. This practice prescribes the ViziLite Plus exam for all patients at increased risk but especially those at high risk and highest risk for oral cancer. We will be offering the ViziLite Plus exam following the standard oral cancer examination of the oral cavity for a fee of $40.00.