Complete each time the examination is performed and place in the patient's file
Our practice continually looks for advances to ensure that we are providing the optimum level of oral health care to our patients. We are concerned about oral cancer and look for it in every patient.
One American dies every hour from oral cancer. Late detection of oral cancer is the primary cause that both the incidence and mortality rates of oral cancer continue to increase. As with most cancers, age is the primary risk factor for oral cancer. Tobacco and alcohol use arc other major predisposing risk factors but more than 25% of oral cancer victims have no such lifestyle risk factors. Oral cancer risk by patient profile is as follows:
Increased risk: patients age 18-39 s High risk: patients age 40 and older; tobacco users (any age, any type within 10 years) Highest risk: patients age 40 and older with lifstyle risk factors (tobacco and/or alcohol use); , previous history of oral cancer
We have recently incorporated ViziLite Plus into our oral screening standard of care. We find that using ViziLite Plus along with a standard oral cancer examination improves the ability to identify suspicious areas at their earliest stages. ViziLite plus is similar to proven early detection procedures for other cancers such as mammography, Pap smear, and PSA. ViziLite Plus is a simple and painless examination that gives the best chance to find any oral abnormalities at the earliest possible stage. Early detection of precancerous tissue can minimize or eliminate tile potentially disfiguring effects of oral cancer and possibly save your life. The ViziLite Plus exam will be offered to you annually.
This enhanced examination is recognized by the American Dental Association code revision committee as CDT-5 procedure code D0431; however, this exam might not he covered by your insurance. The fee for this enhanced examination is $45.