Dentists from Dents Mon Quartier put oral disease prevention at the heart of their practice, always with the goal of allowing their patients to maintain a smile of health and well-being. Among the pathologies for which we strive to perform a maximum of prevention, we find, of course, the cancer of the mouth.
Since oral cancer is a scary disease, and since it can be life-threatening if not cared for quickly enough, our team makes every effort to promote the health of its patients. Using the latest technology in oral cancer screening, the VELscope technology, and their expertise, dentists are able to catch oral cancer at an early stage.
Cancer of the mouth: a sneaky disease as is the case with all types of cancer, the earlier a cancer of the mouth is detected, the greater the chances that it can be treated. However, oral cancer is often asymptomatic in its early stages, which means it goes unnoticed by many people. Of course, regular screening promotes the chances of diagnosis while the disease is still in an early stage. People over the age of 40, those who smoke and those who consume alcohol should be sure to have regular screening for the disease. Age, smoking and alcohol are the main risk factors for this type of cancer. Nevertheless, everyone should pay special attention to the following signs and symptoms, which are associated with cancer of the mouth:
- Reddish or whitish spots that appear on the lips or soft tissues of the mouth (gums, palates, inner cheeks, etc.);
- Lesions similar to ulcers that persist beyond two weeks;
- thickening of the lips or inside the cheeks;
- numbness or loss of sensation in the mouth area;
- Bleeding or persistent oral pain
VELscope: a reassuring technology
During routine examinations of our patients, at Dents Mon Quartier we are proud to use VELscope, a technology that we use in addition to the visual oral exam. This allows our dentists to detect the presence of abnormal lesions on the tongue, lips, inside the mouth and in the upper part of the throat. These lesions can sometimes be cancerous or precancerous.
The main advantage of VELscope is that the technology can detect lesions that are in an early stage and are invisible to the naked eye.
How does VELscope Technology work?
VELscope uses a blue fluorescent light, with which the dentist examines all the oral tissues. The operation is relatively simple: the healthy cells of the mouth will reflect blue light, while this is not the case of abnormal cells, which will appear to be darker. This makes it possible to detect cancer cells, or which are in a precancerous state. If necessary, the dentist can further investigate the situation and perform a biopsy, a sample of oral tissue for laboratory analysis. If you have concerns about oral cancer, know that the team of Dents Mon Quartier is always there to examine you and reassure you. By coming to visit us, you benefit from the expertise of our dental team, as well as the advanced technologies that we use!
Approved by Dre Charouk
Dr. Joumana Charouk, D.M.D, is proud to offer her patients exceptional care that combines experience, efficiency and good humor.
Dre Joumana Charouk, D.M.D