Our dentist, Dr. John Bjornson, can examine your mouth to detect cancer, or early signs of cancer, and offer a personalized treatment plan to Victoria patients.
VELscope Vx Screening Device
Oral cancer can affect any part of the mouth or surrounding tissues including your face, neck, lips, tongue, throat, tissues, and gums. During your checkups, your dentist will examine these areas for signs of oral cancer that may be difficult to detect with the eye.
At Dental On Fort, we use the VELscope Vx screening device to detect oral cancer. The VELscope is a powerful tool available for assisting in the discovery of oral concerns. Discovering soft tissue abnormalities is particularly important in fighting oral cancer.
Since the VELscope assists in early detection, cancer can be caught before it has time to spread, potentially saving a patient’s life through less invasive, effective treatment.
Why We Use VELscope
The VELscope system helps your dentist and hygienist visualize abnormalities in the mucosal tissues of your lips, mouth, and upper throat. This technology helps dentists quickly detect and treat any indications of cancer.
In just two minutes, with no rinses, stains, or discomfort, a VELscope examination allows us to develop a more detailed assessment of your overall oral health.
How VELscope Works
The VELscope’s blue light excites molecules (called fluorophores) deep within the layers of oral mucosal tissues. These fluorophores emit their own light (fluorescence), in shades of green, yellow, and red.
The VELscope’s proprietary filter makes fluorescence visualization possible by blocking reflected blue light, and by enhancing the contrast between normal and abnormal tissue.