Dental Services Offered by Water's Edge Family and Cosmetic Dentistry

• Anxiety-Free Dentistry	• Infection Control
• Clenching/Grinding	• Inlays/Onlays
• Cosmetic Dentistry	• Invisalign Braces
• CEREC Crown in a Day	• Neuromuscular Dentistry
• Dental Implants	• Porcelain Veneers
• Dentures and Partials	• Root Canals
• Diagnodent	• Sleep Apnea & Snoring
• Digital X-Rays	• Spa Services
• Extractions	• Teeth Whitening
• Fixed Bridges	• TMJ
• Full Mouth Rehabilitation	• Tooth Colored Fillings
• Hygiene/Gum Care	• Oral Cancer Test

ViziLite (Oral Cancer Screening)

ViziLite Plus as part of a comprehensive oral screening

Oral cancer is one of the most curable diseases when it's caught early. That's why the ViziLite Plus exam has been developed. ViziLite Plus uses technology that has proven successful in identifying soft tissue abnormalities in other areas of the body. A ViziLite Plus exam is particularly important if you are at increased risk for developing oral cancer.

The ViziLite Plus exam can help your dentist or hygienist identify abnormal tissue, that might develop into oral cancer.

An annual ViziLite Plus exam, in combination with a regular visual examination, provides a comprehensive oral screening procedure for patients at increased risk for oral cancer. The ViziLite Plus exam is painless and fast, and could help save your life.

ViziLite Plus is performed immediately following yearly visual examinations.

Importance of Early Detection

Early detection is the key to reducing the devastating impact of oral cancer on victims and their families. Annual oral cancer screening of patients at increased risk for oral cancer, patients age 18 and older, and tobacco users of any age, is the only way to achieve the early detection of oral cancer necessary to reduce the death rate of oral cancer - a death rate that has remained unchanged for more than 40 years.

Doesn't my dentist already do a cancer screening?

Yes, your dentist does check your neck and oral tissues for lumps, red or white patches or recurring sore areas. But typically, these techniques catch cancer at very advanced stages and mortality drops dramatically. Early detection is key to a successful treatment. With Vizilite Plus, Dr. Dahlkemper can detect early stages of cancer more easily and should be checked yearly.

Oral Cancer Information

• CNN News article: Oral Cancer's Toll Cruel

Oral Cancer in South Carolina: A Fact Sheet

What Is The Public Health Issue?

An estimated 28,000 new cases of oral cancer and 7,200 deaths from these cancers occurred in the United States in 2004. The age-adjusted incidence was more than twice as high among men than among women, as was the mortality rate. More than 40% of persons diagnosed with oral cancer die within five years of diagnosis.

More than 90% of oral cancers can be attributed to tobacco use, alcohol use, and both tobacco and alcohol use. Sun exposure can also be a risk factor for oral cancer. Low consumption of fruit and some types of human papilloma virus infections have also been implicated.

How Is Oral Cancer Diagnosed?

An examination for oral cancer may be done during a physical examination by your dentist or physician. An oral cancer exam is painless and quick. Your health care provider will inspect your face, neck, lips and mouth to look for any signs of cancer. With both hands, he or she will feel the area under your jaw and the side of your neck, checking for lumps that may suggest cancer. Next, your provider will have you stick out your tongue so that it can be checked for swelling or abnormal color or texture. In addition, he or she will look at the roof and floor of your mouth, as well as the back of your throat. He or she will then look at and feel the insides of your lips and cheeks to check for possible signs of cancer, such as red and/or white patches.

Using gauze, he or she will then gently pull your tongue to one side, then the other, to check the base of your tongue. The underside of your tongue will also be checked. Finally, your provider will put one finger on the floor of your mouth and, with the other hand under your chin, gently press down to check for lumps or sensitivity.

How Is South Carolina Doing?

Oral cancer is the 9th most common cancer in South Carolina, with 2,897 oral cancers diagnosed between 1996 and 2001 (or about 480 new cases per year). South Carolina ranks 2nd in the nation for deaths from oral cancer. The majority (70%) of oral cancers occurred in males, with black males having the highest incidence. There are three counties in South Carolina (Charleston, Georgetown, and Richland) with oral cancer rates higher than the state average.

Quickfacts: Oral Cancer in the U.S.:

• Persons aged 45 and older account for 90% of oral cancer cases
• More than 90% of oral cancers can be attributed to tobacco or alcohol use
• Men are twice as likely as women to contract and die from oral cancer

Related U.S. Healthy People Year 2010 Objectives:

• Objective 21-6: Increase the proportion of oral and pharyngeal cancers detected at the earliest stage from 35% to 50%.
  • In South Carolina, 37% of oral cancers are detected at the early stage (localized)
  • Only 2% are detected before they become invasive.
• Objective 21-7: Increase the proportion of adults over 40 years old who, in the past 12 months, report having had an examination to detect oral and pharyngeal cancer.
  • In the U.S., about 13% of adults aged 40 and over had an exam for oral cancer in the last 12 months.
  • In South Carolina, 14.6% of adults aged 18 and over had an exam for oral cancer.

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
Division of Oral Health
1751 Calhoun St
Columbia, SC 29205