ViziLite® Oral Cancer Screening

One person dies every hour from oral cancer in the United States—and the mortality has remained unchanged for more than 40 years.  Late detection of oral cancer is the primary reason that both the incidence and mortality rates of oral cancer continue to increase.  As with most other cancers, age is the primary risk factor for oral cancer.

Though tobacco use is a major predisposing risk factor, 27% of oral cancer victims have no lifestyle risk factors.  The sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer in women, HPV, is poised to become one of the leading causes of oral cancer in men, according to a new study.  The HPV virus causes as many cancers of the upper throat as tobacco and alcohol.

According to the American Cancer Society, more women in the United States will be diagnosed with oral cancer (,10,000 cases), and there are as many cases of oral cancer caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV 16/18), a sexually transmitted disease, as there are HPV-related cases of cervical cancer a22% correlation).

In our continuing efforts to provide the most advanced technology and highest standard of care available to our patients, this practice is proud to announce the inclusion of the ViziLite Plus® exams as an integral part of our annual comprehensive oral screening program.

Clinical studies have determined that using ViziLite Plus® after the standard oral cancer examination improves the dental professional’s ability to identify and evaluate suspicious areas at their earliest stages.  Early detection of pre-cancerous tissue can minimize or eliminate the potentially disfiguring effects of oral cancer and possibly save your life.  Proven screening technologies such as mammograms, Pap smears, PSAs and colonoscopies offer the same type of early detection of cancer.  ViziLIte Plus®  is an easy and painless examination that gives this practice the best chance to find any oral abnormalities you may have at the earliest possible stage.