Oral Head and Neck Cancer Week
April 12-18 was Oral Head and Neck Cancer week awareness in the US and Canada
and was started to educate the public and healthcare personnel on the diagnosis and
treatment of this disease. Amazingly, more than 34,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancers this year. In the US, it is a known fact that one person dies from oral cancer every hour!
The problem with oral cancer is that it is usually discovered late so early treatment is not delivered. Dentists are in a great position to help patients discover this disease early and prevent deaths.
For years we have done manual cancer screens for our patients. We now have new technology, Identafi 3000 from Trimira, uses three special lights, with Multi Spectral Fluorescence, that will show cancerous lesions in the mouth. It is truly a leap in technology and a service to patients. It is recommending, similar to mammograms that patients have an oral cancer screen exam every year.
This technology has the potential to really decrease the mortality rate if dentists invest in this technology and patients accept it.
If you have any questions about oral cancer screening or the Identafi 3000, please contact our office, Ronald W. Konig DDS, FAGD, LVIF, a Houston Cosmetic Dentist and Houston TMJ dentist, 713-668-2289
