Velscope: For the prevention of Oral Cancer Offered by Dr. Spencer Luth and Dr. Greg Heideman in Las Vegas, Nevada

Every hour in America, someone dies of Oral Cancer. Oral Cancer is the sixth most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in the United States. Presently 30,000 patients are diagnosed annually with oral cancer. The 5-year survival rate is only 50%, totaling 8,000 deaths annually.

Oral Cancer risk factors include tobacco use (both smoked and chewed), frequent and/or excessive alcohol consumption, a compromised immune system, past history of cancer, and the presence of the HPV virus. 25% of all newly diagnosed cases have been in patients under the age of forty with none of the known risk factors. Oral Cancer is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved in the past 50 years. This is due primarily to the fact that during this time we have not changed the way we screen for this disease (a visual and manual examination of the oral cavity, head, and neck).

With the non-invasive Velscope technology, at Luth & Heideman we are able to properly screen our patients to determine if there is a need to investigate any concerns further. According to the Velscope website, “When it comes to oral cancer and saving lives, these are the primary responsibilities of the dental community. The most important step in reducing the death rate from oral cancer is early discovery. No group has a better opportunity to have an impact than members of the dental community.”

Contact us today to schedule a free Velscope consultation and to learn more about how we can better serve your dental needs.