Velscope-the Oral Cancer Screening System

Dentist in Towson, MD

At Ousborne and Keller , it has always been our priority to keep our staff and patients as informed as possible. We believe that having the most current and accurate information is vital to making the most informed choices regarding both your dental and overall health. We pride ourselves on being able to offer the latest technology available to our valued patients and VELscope™ makes it easier than ever to provide this service.

Although a frightening statistic, oral cancer occurs more than three times as often as cervical cancer. One person in North America dies every hour from it and the five-year survival rate of 50% has not changed in the past 35 years. Smoking and alcohol increase the risk. HPV (Human Papilloma Virus ) is directly correlated to oral cancer and spread through sexual activity, especially noted in our young population.

Unfortunately, seventy percent of the time, oral cancer is discovered in its late stages. Oral cancer has a high cure rate when detected early, however early detection has been all too rare. Fortunately, VELscope™, a screening process, is now available to aid in the early detection of oral cancer.

This remarkable device allows Drs. Ousborne and Keller to see abnormalities more often and clearly than they ever could with the naked eye alone. When viewed through the VELscope™, abnormal tissue stands out from normal surrounding healthy tissue.

The Procedure

The VELscope™ scan takes about two minutes as part of a regular hygiene visit, involves no pain or inconvenience, and is completely safe. Absolutely no radiation is emitted and the device is FDA (Food and Drug Administration ) approved.

What happens if we find something?

Usually, there is nothing to worry about. Sometimes the suspicious-looking area can be caused by chewing the inside of your cheek or by irritation from dentures or braces. Generally, we will ask you to return to our office in a few weeks so that we can see if the area has disappeared, has progressed, or remained stable.

If the area has not improved, Drs. Ousborne and Keller may suggest a biopsy of the area and/or refer you to a specialist. Should the biopsy reveal cancerous or pre-cancerous tissues, you will be referred for appropriate treatment.

Want to feel secure?

During your periodic hygiene visits, we always clinically examine your mouth for any lesions that might be visible to the naked eye. We will perform a thorough examination of your neck for any suspicious bumps or lumps. Now, with the aid of VELscope™, Drs. Ousborne and Keller can go one step further and literally see beneath the surface to detect potentially dangerous growths which might have otherwise been missed.

At Ousborne and Keller, we are very proud to be among the first in the area to offer this amazing advanced technology. So much so, that it has become a crucial part of our ‘standard of care’. We offer this service as yet another way to assist our patients in maintaining their overall health. Should you have any questions for concerns about an oral abnormities, we urge you to contact our office and request a VELscope™ scan today.