Although oral cancer primarily affects people over the age of 40 people of all ages can be at risk. Oral cancer can occur on the lips, gums, tongue, inside lining of the cheeks, roof of the mouth and the floor of the mouth.

Your BLVD Dentist is situated to help be the first line of defense in detecting oral cancer or pre-cancerous cells. Our BLVD offices are now offering a new technology called VELscope. This allows our providers to meticulously screen for oral cancer, detecting symptoms that the naked eye simply can’t see, including inflammation, infection, cancerous, and precancerous tissue.

During a VELscope exam, we shine a blue, high-powered light over your oral tissue. Any abnormalities appear underneath this light, including the earliest formations of cancerous lesions or other abnormalities. This screening takes just a few minutes, is painless and is the best detection technology we have available. The results are immediately available to our team.

We recommend an oral cancer screening exam every two years for those of our patients under the age of 40 and annually for those over the age of 40. Because early detection can dramatically improve the chance of successful treatment, be sure to ask for this screening at your next checkup.

Call our 5th Street, Riverside, Galleria, Heights, Oak Forest, Rice Village, Richmond, Spring or Hulen dental offices to make an appointment with a dentist who may be able to help you find out more about this topic, and improve your oral health.