Enhanced Oral Cancer Assessment

Routine Care Is Preventative Care

At Zen Dental, we believe in the comprehensive oral health management of our patients. We include oral cancer assessment in our routine patient oral health follow-ups where needed.

Often generally referred to as “oral cancer”, oral and oropharyngeal cancers are any cancer that forms in the mouth, lips, cheeks, gums, tongue, hard palate, tonsils, and throat.

We typically perform enhanced assessments for patients with known risk factors—as part of preventative care—or for patients with previous signs of oral health issues.

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How Does an Enhanced Oral Cancer Assessment Work?

Our dentist or hygienist performs a thorough examination with the fluorescence visualization device for patients where it’s needed after they have performed the recall checks.

The fluorescence visualization device emits specific wavelengths of blue spectrum light into your mouth to stimulate natural tissue fluorescence (visible light), which can be viewed directly through the device.

Risk Factors for Oral Health

Our lifestyle choices include food and beverages that, over time, increase the risk for oral cancer. Sun exposure, betel quid, tobacco (chewing, smoking, snuff), family history of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)—the most common type of oral cancer—or even poor oral health are also factors.

The risk of developing oral cancer increases as we age, with risks increasing significantly after age 45.

Technology Provides Enhanced Health Details

Unaided Eye View

The unassisted eye can miss early signs, as tissue changes or lesions may not look or feel different from healthy tissue. Technology allows us to look into tissue without invasive surgery and monitor tissue changes over time.

Enhanced View

An enhanced view with a fluorescence visualization device can provide details invisible to the unaided eye. This allows us to detect early signs of disease and health issues.

Lesions spotted with the visualization device are confirmed with a biopsy test.