Protecting Those Who Protect Us

Quick!  Think of three people you're grateful for.  How about three occupations that you're grateful for?  At Matthews Dental, we're grateful for our police officers, firefighters and EMTs.

These fine men and women work in harms way to protect us, so we'd like to give back to them with FREE oral cancer screenings for all police officers, firefighters and EMTs in Orem and Provo.  These free screenings are available for the rest of April and the entire month of May.

April is Oral Cancer awareness month.  The Oral Cancer Foundation informs, "While some think this is a rare cancer, mouth cancer will be newly diagnosed in about 100 new individuals each day in the US alone."  Although tobacco and alcohol use are major factors in oral cancer, they aren't the only causes.  In fact 25% of those diagnosed with oral cancer don't have any risk factors. (In other words, don't think that because you don't drink or smoke that you're in the clear.)

Oral cancer is one of the most deadly cancers with 43% of patients dying within 5 years of diagnosis.  However (and this is important) this is because, most oral cancers are not caught until they are already late stage.  As with all cancers, early detection is key.

At MatthewsSmiles, it is recommended that all patients have a panoramic X-ray every 3 years, to keep and eye out for cancer in the jaw.  But the soft tissues are harder to notice.  Lumps in the mouth are generally the same color as healthy tissues and often flat. It's not like watching a mole get dark and asymmetrical.  There's really nothing that makes you worry.  Without all those arrows, I wouldn't have noticed the lump below.

Recently, Dr. Matthews has purchased a VELscope. This new tool shines a light that penetrates so the dentist or hygienist can look at the basal layers of the tissue in the mouth.  If the tissue is healthy is fluoresces green; unhealthy tissue stays dark.  In addition to shining the Velscope light, the tissues in the mouth are also touched to feel for unusual bumps or lumps.

Dr. Matthews recommends a cancer screening once a year.  Even though oral cancer is three times as common as cervical cancer, most insurance companies won't cover the cost of the screening.  But for those of us who aren't first responders (and getting the free screening), the out-of-pocket cost is only $20.  I think $20 is a great price for peace of mind.

Photo Credits: Provo Mayor Blog and VELscope.com