ViziLite Plus is part of our comprehensive oral screening
The ViziLite Plus exam can help us identify abnormal tissue, that might develop into oral cancer.
Oral cancer is one of the most curable diseases when it's caught early. That's why the ViziLite Plus exam has been developed. ViziLite Plus uses technology that has proven successful in identifying soft tissue abnormalities in other areas of the body. A ViziLite Plus exam is particularly important if you are at increased risk for developing oral cancer.
An annual ViziLite Plus exam, in combination with a regular visual examination, provides a comprehensive oral screening procedure for patients at increased risk for oral cancer. The ViziLite Plus exam is painless and fast, and could help save your life.
The following links provide more information about ViziLite Plus examinations and oral cancer.
- General overview of ViziLite Plus
- Frequently Asked Questions in the event of a positive ViziLite Plus exam
- Information on Oral Cancer
How is a Vizilite Plus exam performed?
ViziLite Plus is performed immediately following a regular visual examination.
- First, you will be instructed to rinse with a cleansing solution
- Next, the overhead lighting will be dimmed
- Then, your dental professional will examine your mouth using ViziLite Plus, a specially designed light technology
Benefits and Expectations
- When oral cancer is found at the earliest stage, treatment is quicker, simpler, less involved, and more then 90% successful! When oral cancer is diagnosed in late stage, treatment is expensive, disfiguring and has a poor survival rate.
- ViziLite Plus is a technology that assists in the early detection of abnormal tissue in your mouth.
- ViziLite Plus helps us see abnormal tissue that is not visible during a regular exam.
- At the conclusion of a ViziLite Plus exam, following a standard visual exam, you can be confident you have received the most comprehensive oral cancer screening available.
Common Questions in the event of a positive ViziLite Plus exam
What does it mean that my ViziLite Plus exam results were positive?
It means that during the visual portion of your oral exam, we saw something that didn't look entirely normal.
Is a positive ViziLite Plus result bad news?
Not necessarily. ViziLite Plus identifies oral abnormalities including serious abnormailites such as oral cancer. However, ViziLite Plus will also identify benign abnormalities. We will first rule out trauma (cheek bites, food irritations, etc.) as a cause of the abnormality. You may be recalled for further evaluation. If, at the time of your re-evaluation, we are not 100% certain that the abnormality is benign, you will likely be referred to a specialist for further assessment.
What should I be doing until my next ViziLite Plus exam?
The first thing is, don't worry over the first positive reading. You should continue to practice good health measures. Your mouth responds to positive lifestyle changes like avoiding cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, and alcohol. It's OK to continue to eat the foods that you normally do; however, try to eliminate foods that can irritate and scratch the inside of your mouth, tongue, and cheeks (such as nuts or hard candies) until after your next exam.
Where can I go to get more information about oral health issues?
Please feel free to ask our dentists and staff any questions you may have about your oral health. For additional information about oral cancer, you can visit the Oral Cancer Foundation website at http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org for more information.
About Oral Cancer
Most people are surprised to learn that one American dies every hour from oral cancer; a death rate that has remained virtually unchanged for more than 40 years. In fact, recent statistics published by the American Cancer Society indicate that while the incidence and death rates for cancers overall has decreased, the incidence of oral cancer has increased by 5.5% and the death rate has increased by 1.5%
Oral cancer is far too often discovered in late stage development, the primary reason for the consistently high death rate. Oral cancer treatment often results in disfiguring effects on patients, and can seriously compromise their quality of life. Early detection and diagnosis can make a tremendous difference in life expectancy; oral cancer is 90% curable when found in its early stages. Unfortunately, 70% of oral cancers are diagnosed in the late stages, III and IV, leading to a five-year survival rate of 57%.
The Deadly Statistics
- Every hour of every day, one American dies of oral cancer.
- The mortality rate associated with oral cancer has not improved significantly in the last 40 years.
- The death rate in the United States for oral cancer is higher than that of cervical cancer, Hodgkin's disease, cancer of the brain, liver, testes, kidney, or ovary.
- More than 30,000 Americans will receive an oral cancer diagnosis this year. In five years, only 57% will still be alive.
- 27% of oral cancer victims do not use tobacco or alcohol and have no other lifestyle risk factors.
If you would like to set an appointment or want more information about ViziLite Plus, please feel free to contact us with any questions, or visit their website at vizilite.com.