April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month!

Did you know that an oral cancer screening can be added to your routine dental exam and cleaning? April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, so we encourage you to make an appointment for an oral cancer screening at our office and join us in the fight to prevent oral cancers! During the month of April, we will be donating 100% of the screening fee to the Oral Cancer Foundation. A screening only takes a few minutes, and can lead to early detection. Oral cancer is a very serious disease that affects many: every day, approximately 132 people in the United States will be diagnosed with a type of oral cancer. With early detection, the cancer can often be much easier to treat, since it may not have spread.  

Using VELscope^® Vx oral cancer screening technology, Dr. Cathy Santone can look for troublesome signs that indicate if you may be at risk. This innovative and non-invasive technology — which is not always available at other dental practices — allows Dr. Santone to quickly and easily identify any potential warning signs by using a specialized blue light. If you are a smoker or regular user of tobacco products, we highly recommend this screening. Other patients who may be considered at risk include those who might have been exposed to HPV. Even if you are a non-smoker, oral cancer screenings are a quick and painless preventative measure that can easily be incorporated into your regular dental visits.

To learn more about oral cancer and oral cancer screenings, or to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists, please contact Encinitas Cosmetic Dentistry today.