Oral cancer screening is important. Current statistics state the somewhere around 50% of oral cancers are found late. Some of that is due to many patients not getting regular dental exams, but it also relates to how difficult these areas can be to see. Many early lesions aren't easy to spot and that makes the dental professionals job more difficult. That's especially true when using a standard white light for exams.
That's where AdDents Bio/Screen device comes into play. The device uses five powerful violet LEDs to illuminate the tissues of the mouth. Biofluorescence of normal tissue under this light means that any tissues that appear dark or black under the violet light indicate some type of damage to that tissue. This difference in appearance makes it easier to spot any areas that might need followup. I tell my patients that the Bio/Screen is not a diagnostic device... it is a screening device. Something dark doesn't necessarily mean it is cancer, but it means the tissue has been injured somehow and that we should do a followup exam to make sure the area is no longer there.
The device is cordless and uses a rechargeable battery so it is easy to move and use in any treatment area. It has an eyepiece and an optical viewing filter that helps increase contrast between healthy tissue and tissues that have been injured somewhat.
Most doctors are routinely providing oral cancer screenings at hygiene appointments, but do your patients *know* you are providing this service? To help doctors get the word out about why they are performing exams using the Bio/Screen, the good people at AdDent have created a 'tent card' that can be printed and put in the reception area or even given to patients. You can find that file here. Or you can click on the file below and download it from here.
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