New Tools in the Fight Against Oral Cancer

Recently some new devices have come to dentists' aid in the recognition and diagnosis of oral cancers. Oral cancers do not always look scary and obvious. Check out the following pictures of various oral cancers.

They may not look scary but the facts regarding oral cancers are very scary;
- 34,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year.
- Of these 34,000 newly diagnosed people, 48% will be dead within five years.
- Oral cancer, unlike many other cancers, has not shown a decrease in mortality in the last 30 years.
- 25% of oral cancers occur in people with no known risk factors.
- Oral cancer occurrence is rising in young people, women, and non-smokers - those people traditionally thought of as being protected from oral cancers. This is often caused by HPV, the human papilloma virus, the same virus that causes 95% of cervical cancer.
- Oral cancer is as common as leukemia and it claims more lives than melanoma and cervical cancers.

 Several methods are available for detecting and screening for oral cancers. One method used is a "brush biopsy." These have been around for several years. It consists of a little brush that your dentist will use to scrape off some of the mucosal cells. The brush gets sent to an outside laboratory for analysis.

Another method is the Velscope. The Velscope is an early oral cancer detection device that uses a light to visualize abnormal cells. Oral cancers can be seen by the naked eye only when they are quite advanced. This is why the mortality rate of oral cancers is so high. The Velscope is an inexpensive screening tool that can be utilized to see these cellular changes early on.

The Vizlite is another device that uses light to visualize cellular changes. These methods also can detect a change in the cells below the surface of the tissue.

In the event of a positive test, all these methods would be followed up with a biopsy for definitive diagnosis.

The main purpose of these methods is to catch a cancer early on. As with any cancer, early detection is the key. All of these tests are simple, non-invasive, and inexpensive. If you have any concerns or have risk factors in your lifestyle, don't wait! Check it out. Your life could depend on it.

     Many physically and mentally disabled people live in residential centers, cared for on a daily basis by people other than family. Even when residential staff is caring and compassionate, often training is not in place for daily dental care of patients.
     High levels of oral disease are present in these disabled populations due to lack of care. Many residents at these institutions cannot maintain any level of oral hygiene due to physical inability or mental incapacity. Having poor dental health can impact eating ability, diet, weight, speech, appearance and social interactions. Those living in residential care centers are completely reliant on their care givers to provide regular dental hygiene. It becomes necessary for family members to educate and discuss expectations with caregivers so that the disabled person's needs are met.
     For dependent and cognitively impaired adults, the provision of necessary daily hygiene can be challenging and daunting for care givers. It gets further complicated when patients have reduced dexterity, impaired sensory functions, cognitive problems and behavioral issues.

      Medications that are commonly used in these populations, like anti-depressants, blood pressure medications, diabetes medications and anti-psychotics often cause decreased salivary flow which in turn creates more dental problems. When salivary flow decreases, the amount of decay increases dramatically. Lowered salivary flow also creates an oral environment where dentures and partials can become uncomfortable, causing sores to develop.
     People with diabetes have a greater incidence of gum disease, which can in turn be associated with a greater risk of heart disease. In order to successfully manage overall health care in this population, attention to dental care becomes imperative. The following recommendations can be addressed by family members and caregivers.
- Assistance in daily oral hygiene, meaning daily plaque removal via brushing and denture cleaning. Ideally, brushing should be done twice daily. Dentures should be removed while sleeping. Flossing or use of floss aids can be implemented when physical skill allows.
- Regular dental examinations whether at the facility or at an outside dentist.
- Use of antimicrobial mouth rinses/sprays to decrease food debris, plaque and bacteria.
- Reducing intake of sugary foods.
     Poor oral health and dental pain can impact the disabled person's general well-being and quality of life. Regular oral health practices fall upon caregivers when disabled people cannot take care of themselves.
Family members can ask care givers what dental services are provided for residents and what kind of training they have had to provide those services. A consultation with a dentist can provide family members with the tools they need to make recommendations for their loved one's care.