Oral cancer is one of the most cureable diseases when it's caught early. The ViziLite Plus oral cancer screening is successful in identifying precancerous and cancerous abnormalities in the mouth, including oral leasions at their earliest stage of development. Treatment of oral cancer is simpler, less invasive and more than 90% successful when found early, which is why regular screening is important. 3 Canadians die every day from oral cancer and 25% of oral cancers occur in people who don't smoke and have no lifestyle risk factors. The oral cancer screening is simple, potentially life-saving and is therefore very important for every adult.

Oral Cancer Risk

Increased risk:

• Patients age 18-39 without lifestyle risk factors.Risk factors include tobacco use and chronic alcohol use of at least 2 ounces of alcohol 3 times per week.

High risk:

• Patients age 40 or older without lifestyle risk factors.
• Tobacco users of any type at any age.

Highest risk:

• Patients age 40 or older with lifestyle risk factors.
• Patients with a history of oral cancer.

The Screening Procedure

The procedure is quick and painless. First, the dentist or hygienist gets you to rinse with a cleansing solution made primarily of balsamic vinegar. This helps to prepare your oral tissues in order to make anything abnoral easier to see. Next, we examine your mouth using the ViziLite, which is a light specially designed to illuminate abnormal cells. If the light illuminates any supicious lesions, we mark it with special blue dye and document it. The ViziLite improves the examiner's ability to identify, evaluate and monitor abnormal areas that are difficult to detect under conventional lighting.

More information about the ViziLite Plus Oral Lesion Identification and Marking System can be obtained at our office, or by visiting www.vizilite.com.