Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

Around 37,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer each year - with only 45% of those diagnosed surviving more than five years. Cases of mouth cancer or oral cancer have risen by 20% in the past 30 years. It affects twice as many men as women.

Cancer is an abnormal and excessive growth of cells. Scientists are still trying to figure out all of the causes and cures of oral cancer. They do know however, that oral cancer is almost always caused by chewing tobacco. Tobacco use and prolonged, heavy alcohol drinking are the biggest risk factors, but it has also recently been determined that the presence of oral HPV is also a clear risk factor for the disease.

Recommendations for the prevention of oral cancer includes abstinence from all types of tobacco, only moderate alcohol consumption, limited exposure to UV light and use of a SPF 15 lip balm to protect against cancer of the lips. At Dream Smile Dental, we also recommend avoiding sources of oral irritation like poorly fitting dentures, eating the required daily servings of vegetables, fruits and whole-grains and regular dental checkups including an oral cancer exam.

Often, oral cancer is discovered too late, which is the main reason for the high death rate. Early detection and diagnosis is imperative in increasing life expectancy; it is 90% curable when found in the early stages. However, 70% of oral cancers are diagnosed in the late stages.

At Dream Smile Dental, our practice has incorporated VELscope, the most powerful tool available for the discovery of oral abnormal cell growth for up to 5 years before it rises to the surface and can be seen by the naked eye. If you are concerned, or have never been screened for oral cancer, contact us.

Alarmingly, one American dies every hour from oral cancer, and this has remained unchanged for the last 40 years. Often, oral cancer is discovered too late in stage development, which is the main reason for the consistently high death rate.

With early detection, the chance for a cure is high. And now it is easier than ever to detect it. With early detection and diagnosis life expectancy can be increased; it is 90% curable when found in the early stages but 70% of oral cancers are diagnosed in the late stages.

Most often occurring in those who use tobacco in any form, oral cancer can also occur in people who do not smoke and have no other known risk factors. Oral Cancer often starts as a tiny, unnoticed white or red spot or sore anywhere in the mouth: the lips, gum tissue, cheek lining, tongue and the hard or soft palate. It can also cause a change in the way the teeth fit together.

Signs of Oral Cancer include:

• A sore that bleeds easily or does not heal
• A color change of the oral tissues
• A lump, thickening, rough spot, crust or small eroded area
• Pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips
• Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving the jaw or tongue.

If you believe that you or someone you care about may have oral cancer, it is important to have that spot checked. Please contact Dream Smile Dental for a consultation.

One person dies from oral cancer every hour of every day in the United States. However, it is now easier than ever to detect oral cancer early, when the chance for a cure is high. Only half of all patients diagnosed with oral cancer survive more than five years, but with early detection, the patient has an 80% to 90% survival rate.

• It can affect any area of the mouth including the lips, gum tissue, cheek lining, tongue and the hard or soft palate.
• Alcohol use combined with smoking greater increases risk.
• Oral cancers can occur in people who do not smoke and have no other known risk factors.
• The death rate associated with this cancer is particularly high not because it is hard to discover or diagnose, but due to the cancer being routinely discovered late in its development.
• Found early, while still Localized (confined to the primary site), oral cancer's five-year survival rate is good: about 83%. Only 33% of all oral cancer discoveries fall into this category.
• Found while Regional (progressed to regional lymph nodes) the five-year survival rate drops significantly, to about 55%. Approximately 46% of all oral cancer discoveries are Regional.
• Found late, oral cancer's five-year survival rate is poor: approximately 32%. This accounts for approximately 14% of all oral cancer findings.
• Close to 37,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year. It will cause over 8,000 deaths, killing roughly 1 person per hour, 24 hours per day. Of those 36,000 newly diagnosed individuals, only slightly more than half will be alive in 5 years.
• Very recent data (late 2007-2008) lead us to believe that the fastest growing segment of the oral cancer population are non smokers under the age of fifty.

If there is a concern with a particular area, a biopsy may be recommended as a preemptive measure. Most biopsies result in benign findings, but if further treatment is required, the dentist will provide you with your options. Diagnosing and eliminating cancer in it's earliest stages minimizes it's spread, and ultimately saves lives.

At Dream Smile Dental, with the addition of the VELScope, we can become aware of suspicious areas in the mouth, before they even grow into a lesion. Ask us for more information on the VELScope!

Early Detection of Oral Cancer can Improve Treatment Success

You may be surprised to learn that one American dies every hour from oral cancer. This death rate has remained virtually unchanged for over 40 years. In fact, while the incidence and death rates for cancers in general have decreased, the incidence of oral cancer has increased by 5.5% and the death rate has increased by 1.5%

Often, oral cancer is discovered too late in stage development, which is the main reason for the consistently high death rate. Therefore, oral cancer treatment often results in the patients being disfigured which can seriously diminish their quality of life. Early detection and diagnosis is imperative in increasing life expectancy; it is 90% curable when found in the early stages. However, 70% of oral cancers are diagnosed in the late stages.

Did you know that the death rate in the United States for oral cancer is higher than that of cervical cancer, Hodgkin's disease, cancer of the brain, liver, testes, kidney, or ovary? More than 30,000 Americans will receive an oral cancer diagnosis this year. In five years, only 57% will still be alive. Also, 27% of oral cancer victims do not use tobacco or alcohol and have no other lifestyle risk factors.

Early detection is the key to successful treatment and increasing life expectancy. At Dream Smile Dental, our practice has incorporated VELscope, the most powerful tool available for assisting in the discovery of oral abnormalities.

The VELscope's blue-spectrum light causes the soft tissues of the mouth to naturally fluoresce. Healthy tissues fluoresce in distinctive patterns, and these patterns are visibly disrupted by trauma or disease. Using the VELscope, a wide variety of oral abnormalities can be discovered often before they're visible to the unassisted eye.

With the addition of the VELScope, we can become aware of suspicious areas in the mouth, before they even grow into a lesion. Ask us for more information on the VELScope!

Oral cancer or medically known as oral cavity cancer, is any type of cancerous tissue development which is located in the oral cavity. It can originate in any tissues of the tongue and mouth which could be of any histolgic type (tumor) - teratoma, melanoma, adenocarcinoma, lymphoma or any other lymphoid tissue. Below are a few symptoms of oral cancer that you should be aware of:

• Red and white patches inside the mouth and lips
• Sore lip
• Mouth bleeding
• Loose teeth
• Difficulty or pain when swallowing
• Difficulty wearing dentures
• Neck lump
• Pain in the ears

Almost 90% of oral cancer cases are carcinomas, originating mostly in the mouth and lips. These Squamous carcinomas are malignant tumors which spreads rapidly within nasal cavity, sinus and to the head and neck. The mortality rate for oral cancer is 35%. The reason why there is a low mortality rate for this type of cancer is that because most cases are not detected early. Prevention is the key to avoid this dreaded disease. Below are some known risk factors:

1. History of neck and head cancer
People who have had a experienced neck and head cancer are much prone in developing another cancer type or ordinary disease located in the head and neck.

2. Tobacco
Smoking is the number one cause for oral cancer. Any type of tobacco products like cigarette, pipes and cigars all can cause cancer. People who are heavy smokers are at higher risk for this disease.

3. Alcohol
Alcohol contributes highly to this type of cancer especially if the patient is a smoker or using any type of tobacco. Alcohol abuse can fasten the development of cancer by three folds than those people who don't drink.

Most importantly we have a machine called the Velscope that can detect a cancer below the surface up to 5 years before it becomes visibly noticeable.  This can save a person from having major reconstructive surgery which will alter their face (like the recent case of Robert Ebert from Siskel and Ebert movie critics).  He lost his whole lower face and can't speak.  The Velscope can help in catching cancer early and preventing these situations.


Oral cancer is a silent type of cancer disease which is deadly and life threatening. The only solution is to avoid this risk factors at all cost. The most known factor is tobacco so better cease smoking from now on to prevent any diseases such as this. Prevention is better than cure, take note of that! Contact us today if you or a loved one has any of the symptoms listed above. Also its best that when you schedule your next appointment that you talk with your dentist about oral cancer and more prevention methods.