35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
YOUR DENTISTS ON THE PLATEAU MONT-ROYAL
Our clinic stands out in Montreal as a pioneer in using technology. In addition to paperless patient records management, these tools allow us to provide care comfortably, quickly, and with great precision.
At Centre Dentaire de Haute Technologie du Quebec, as our name suggests, we place advanced technologies at the heart of our dental practice. This allows us to offer effective care while ensuring the comfort of our patients. In some cases, these technologies also help us detect and diagnose conditions at an early stage. This is the case with the VELscope technology, used for oral cancer screening.
Do not be surprised if, during your next routine dental visit, your dental team uses a device that emits a blue light during your exam. This is the VELscope, a technology that allows for more precise and effective screening of oral cancer.
How does it work? It is quite simple. The VELscope emits a blue fluorescent light. It is used to illuminate the inside of the mouth, especially the soft tissues such as the tongue, the inside of the cheeks, and the soft palate. During this examination, healthy cells reflect the blue light and appear blue. However, abnormal cells appear darker because they do not reflect the light in the same way.
VELscope therefore helps detect abnormal cells more easily, which may be linked to a precancerous condition.
First, oral cancer is often asymptomatic in its early stages. It usually goes unnoticed, especially for someone who is not trained to identify it. Dentists screen for it during routine dental exams and are qualified to detect signs and symptoms associated with the disease.
However, VELscope allows for a far more thorough examination. It can detect signs that may not be visible during a simple visual exam. As a result, cancer of the oral cavity can be diagnosed at a very early stage, often when it is still considered precancerous. Needless to say, early detection greatly improves treatment success and increases the chances of overcoming the disease.
The following statistics show just how important early detection and diagnosis are. When the disease is at Stage 1, meaning the tumor is localized, the five-year survival rate is over 80 percent. However, this rate drops significantly as the cancer grows and spreads. At Stage 4, when the cancer has metastasized and reached other parts of the body, the five-year survival rate drops dramatically to only 20 percent.
The risk of developing oral cancer increases with age, which is a factor we cannot control. However, smoking and high alcohol consumption are the most significant risk factors after aging, and these can be avoided.
As mentioned earlier, oral cancer screening is an essential part of your dental team’s mission during your routine visits. These appointments should never be neglected, as they serve as a true safeguard against the development of advanced disease. Make sure to visit your dentist regularly, as this is the best way to protect yourself.
