MARIETTA, Ga., May 31, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dr. Clifford Morton of Morton General and Implant Dentistry in Marietta, Georgia, has announced the use of the VELscope enhanced oral assessment tool at his practice to aid in the early detection of oral cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be over 40,000 new cases of oral cancer in the United States in 2012. Five year relative survival rates, based on the stage of the cancer, range from 61% to 82%. Dr. Morton says he has seen an increase of 50% in the disease. Although once thought of as a disease of older generations, oral cancer is becoming more common in younger people due to the spread of the Human papillomavirus (HPV).
"Most oral diseases are easily observed and treated with a root canal or dental implant, but the main reason the death rate is so high with oral cancer is because it is often discovered much too late," said Dr. Clifford Morton. "As a dentist that is concerned about promoting my patients' overall health, I wanted to use the latest technology to help diagnose oral cancer earlier. That's why we're using the VELscope in our regular oral screening process."
The practice combines VELscope technology with the traditional manual and visual inspections for oral cancer. VELscope is a handheld device that emits a harmless blue light which stimulates a patient's mouth to make natural fluorophores. Under this light, the Marietta dentist can observe abnormalities which might not otherwise be visible to the naked eye. Although oral cancer usually affects the tongue and the lips it may also be present in a patient's cheek lining, roof or floor of the mouth, or in the gums, which can make visual detection difficult.
Factors that contribute to oral cancer include smoking, heavy alcohol use, chronic irritation, HPV infection, and gum disease. Symptoms may include a sore, lump or ulcer in the mouth; red or white patches; difficulty chewing, swallowing, or talking; swollen lymph nodes and weight loss. If any of these symptoms are observed, an immediate appointment with a professional healthcare provider is recommended.
Dr. Clifford Morton routinely looks for signs of Marietta gum disease with all patients. "We're focused on promoting oral health and preventing disease," said Dr. Morton. "Most patients don't realize how oral health is connected to overall health. In addition to these oral cancer screenings, we look for many other health conditions that show up in the mouth first. We want to give our patients the best chance to fight disease before it starts."
Morton General and Implant Dentistry, located at 3535 Roswell Rd #22, is a full-service dental practice. In addition to keeping patients free of gum disease the practice also provides cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, general and family dentistry and sedation dentistry. Further information on the practice or VELscope oral cancer screening may be obtained by visiting the website at www.mortonimplantdentistmarietta.com.