Checking More Than Teeth

Mouth cancer is a malignant growth which can occur in any part of the mouth, including the tongue, lips and throat. Mouth cancers have a higher proportion of deaths per number of cases than breast cancer, cervical cancer or skin melanoma. The mortality rate is just over 50%, despite treatment, with sadly about 2,700 deaths per year in the UK

Prevention

Visit your dentist at once if you notice any abnormal problems or are not sure. Regular dental check-ups allow early detection of abnormalities in the mouth.

The Mouth Cancer Foundation is an excellent source of further information. It is a registered charity that raises awareness of mouth cancers and provides information and support to patients, carers and health professionals.

Giving up smoking

It’s not easy but NHS Stop Smoking Services can help you get started. Giving up smoking requires preparation, determination, and support. This site is here to help you with each of these. If you’re thinking about giving up, have a look.

The two minute exam that could save your life.

The VELscope

The VELscope system helps dental professionals visualise abnormalities in the mucosal tissues of your lips, mouth and upper throat. In just two minutes, with no rinses, stains or discomfort, a VELscope examination lets healthcare professionals improve their assessment of your overall oral health.

Benefits of the VELscope

The VELscope’s blue light “excites“molecules (called “fluorophores“) deep within the layers of oral mucosal tissues. In turn, those fluorophores emit their own light (fluorescence), in shades of green, yellow and red. The VELscope’s proprietary filter makes fluorescence visualisation possible, by blocking reflected blue light, and by enhancing the contrast between normal and abnormal tissue. It is completely safe and can detect abnormalities not obvious to the naked eye.