Velscope Oral Cancer Screening: What it is & How does it Work?

Velscope Oral Cancer Screening: What it is & How does it Work?

Dec 01, 2022

What is Velscope?

The Velscope is a handheld device that was developed to enhance the detection of early-stage oral cancers. It uses blue light and fluorescence technology to detect abnormalities in oral tissues. The Velscope emits a bright blue light into your mouth, through your cheeks and tongue. It can cause you to salivate more than usual, which is normal. When the bright light hits your tissues, it causes them to glow in shades of green and yellow. This fluorescence helps dentists see changes or abnormalities in your tissues, including those that are difficult to detect with the naked eye.”

What is Velscope Oral Cancer Assessment System?

Velscope is a portable device that uses a blue light to illuminate tissues in the mouth. It’s used to detect cancerous and precancerous cells and can be used to screen people with a high risk of developing oral cancer.

The Velscope Oral Cancer Assessment System (OCAS) also has some other features, like:

  • A computerized optical system: that allows doctors or dentists to examine images captured by the device’s camera lens at magnifications up to 1 million times natural size
  • A built-in thermometer: so users can see whether they’re too hot or cold when using it.

When is Velscope Technology Used for Oral Cancer?

Velscope oral cancer screening effectively detectS early precancers that may lead to more serious consequences if left unchecked. For example, it can detect small polyps on your tongue (or anywhere else), which could turn into larger polyps if left untreated or untreated for too long.

What is The Process of Getting Oral Cancer Screening using Velscope Technology?

The Velscope is a handheld device that was developed to enhance the detection of early-stage oral cancers. It uses blue light and fluorescence technology to detect abnormalities in oral tissues.

1) Examining the Mouth and Cheeks

The Velscope emits a bright blue light into your mouth, through your cheeks and tongue. It can cause you to salivate more than usual, which is normal.

The blue light is harmless and does not hurt the teeth or gums, even though it may make them look whiter for a short time after being exposed to it. The body produces saliva as part of its natural cleaning mechanism, so it’s nothing out of the ordinary when this happens!

2) Checking for Abnormalities

The bright light from Velscope technology detects changes or abnormalities in your tissues. It uses a blue light that passes through the examined tissue and reflects off of blood vessels and other structures within the mouth. The fluorescence technology makes it easier for dentists to see changes or abnormalities in your tissues, including those that are difficult to detect with the naked eye.

3) Additional Tests

If changes in your tissues are found during the screening process, our dentist in Edmonton, AB, may request additional tests to determine if you have oral cancer. These tests could include biopsy or others.

The dentist will discuss the best course of action for further evaluation and treatment options.

Oral cancer treatment will depend on how far cancer has progressed and its severity. Treatment for early stages includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. More advanced oral cancer stages may require combining these treatments and reconstructive surgery after tumor removal.

What are the Benefits of Velscope Technology for Oral Cancer Screening?

The key benefits of getting Velscope oral cancer screening are:

  • Increased detection rate
  • Early detection is critical for survival. You can help ensure that your loved one avoids invasive procedures and potentially fatal complications, such as surgery or radiation therapy.
  • Increased sensitivity and specificity mean that the test will tell you whether a cancerous cell is present in the mouth, so you’ll know before it’s too late! This also allows us to use less radioactive material during the procedure, which means lower costs and fewer side effects on patients.
  • Velscope is a painless, non-invasive technology that uses light and computerized image analysis to detect oral cancer.

Early Detection of Oral Cancer is Key!

Early detection is key to successful treatment. The earlier you start, the better your chances of a complete cure and avoiding long-term effects like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

Get Velscope Oral Cancer Screening Near You

If you have any symptoms that may indicate oral cancer, such as bleeding or pain in the mouth or throat, call us or schedule a consultation with Great Smile Family Dental to get Velscope oral cancer screening in Edmonton, AB!

780-444-1444 Request an Appointment