Oral Cancer Screening  

Advanced VELscope® Technology to Help Detect a Deadly Disease

Out of approximately 34,000 Americans who will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year, only about half of them will survive the next five years. This is mainly because in the early stages, oral cancer has no visible symptoms and is usually not detected until it has spread to other parts of the body.

Fortunately, technology exists that can detect the first signs of oral cancer, and we’re proud to offer it to our patients.

It’s called the VELscope®. It’s quick, painless, and noninvasive, using a bright blue light to illuminate the mouth. Under this light, it’s possible to see abnormalities that are invisible to the naked eye. Dr. Koczarski’s office was one of the first dental practices in the country to adopt VELscope® technology, and we’ve successfully used it on hundreds of patients.

In addition to VELscope® screenings, Dr. K also offers the OraRisk™ HPV, an advanced genetic test that checks for the human papillomavirus, which is the single biggest risk factor for oral cancer. (Click here to read more about the OraRisk™ HPV test.)

VELscope® oral cancer screening and OraRisk™ HPV tests are highly recommended to help protect against this life-threatening form of cancer, and both are offered as part of our comprehensive exam.

VELscope Oral Cancer Screening Featured on The Dr. Oz Show

On September 14, 2010, Dr. Mehmet Oz aired a segment titled “The Appointment You Must Make This Year.” On it, he discusses head and neck cancer, and why it often goes undetected until the late stages of the disease. He also demonstrates the VELscope, and urges everyone to make an appointment with their dentist to get a VELscope screening.

As one of the first dental practices in the country to offer this lifesaving diagnostic technology, Dr. Koczarski has performed VELscope screenings on hundreds of patients. If you haven’t yet had a VELscope oral cancer screening, we urge you to make an appointment for a comprehensive exam now. As Dr. Oz says, it’s the dental visit that could save your life.