Oral Cancer and VELscope Technology

Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS wants her patients to be aware of the threat of oral cancer.  We use VELscope technology in the practice to screen for oral cancer and encourage you to ask about an oral cancer screening with each dental checkup.  While heavy smoking and drinking of course increase the risk of oral cancer, oral cancer can still occur if someone never smokes.  In fact the human papilloma virus (HPV) was recently found to be responsible for most oral cancers that originated in the back of the mouth. 

To screen for oral cancer, our doctors perform a visual exam and utilize VELscope technology.  The VELscope is an ultraviolet device approved by the FDA to detect cancerous irregularities in tissue.  Regular screenings are the best way to protect you and your family, but always contact us if you notice any inexplicable pain, swelling, or numbness in your throat or jaw.

To learn more about oral cancer screenings, the technology we use, and the services we provide at our practice visit www.suzannehaeridds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS herself in our Los Angeles, CA office, call 310-657-2200. 

Oral Cancer Awareness Month

Oral cancer screenings are one of the most important services we provide at Dr. Suzanne Haeri’s office for Cosmetic and General Dentistry in west Los Angeles. As part of Oral Cancer Awareness month, we want to ensure that our patients recognize warning signs of throat cancer so they can help us help them.

Anti-smoking campaigns have been critical to reducing oral cancer fatalities, but in recent years, cancers associated with the human papilloma virus (HPV) have increased. Out of nearly two hundred known strains of HPV, only one has been proven to cause oral cancer. However, it is so far unproven that HPV vaccines are effective against it, and there is no test for it. HPV-associated oral cancer usually occurs in the back of the mouth and top of the throat, which is known as the oropharynx, making it difficult to screen for visually or through biopsies.

Pain, numbness, and swelling are warning signs of developing throat cancer, but these sensations may occur in the jaw or ear as well as the throat. If patients notice these problems, they should not assume they know the cause or that abstaining from smoking or alcohol eliminates oral cancer as a possibility. Tactile testing is still useful for detecting cancer in the oropharynx, and if caught early, HPV-associated cancers are more responsive to treatments than those caused by drugs.

Suzanne Haeri, DDS, of Cosmetic & General Dentistry, is located at 1100 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90035. To set up an appointment, call 310-647-2200 or visit SuzanneHaeriDDS.com and fill out a request.

 

Oral Pathology

Pathology can be defined as the scientific study of the nature of a disease and its causes, processes, development, and consequences. Oral pathology is the specialty that identifies and treats diseases of the mouth and maxillofacial region. Some of the diseases that Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS diagnose include mouth and throat cancer, mumps, salivary gland disorders, ulcers, and more. 

When an abnormality is discovered either by the patient or the dentist, a referral is often made to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Diagnosis is completed through radiographic, microscopic, biochemical and other in-office examinations. Because the mouth is readily accessible, changes indicative of oral cancer or a pathological process can easily be detected in the early stages. Pain is not always necessary to define pathology and is not often associated with oral cancer. However, any patient with facial and/or oral pain without an obvious cause or reason may also be at risk for oral cancer.

If you are concerned about oral cancer, give us a call to discuss your options. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.suzannehaeridds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Suzanne Haeri, DDS herself in our Los Angeles, CA office, call 310-657-2200.