Screening for Oral Cancer - The Identafi® System
Because the signs and symptoms of oral cancer are often missed by the naked eye, Wildrose Dental Hygiene has acquired the technology to detect oral cancer earlier. Our new, state-of-the-art Identafi® system allows us to more effectively identify biochemical and morphological changes in cells of the mouth, throat, tongue and tonsils.
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation,close to 37,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year. Oral cancer will cause over 8,000 deaths, killing roughly 1 person per hour, 24 hours per day.
The main reason for these grim statistics, is not because oral cancer is hard to diagnose, but because it is diagnosed too late - when it is in its advanced stages. As your dental hygienist, I am dedicating myself to do everything that I possibly can to reduce these alarming oral cancer statistics one patient at a time.
That’s why I recently invested in a new, advanced screening device that will enable me to perform a detailed oral exam on my adult patients with far more accuracy than I ever could in the past.
The device, which is called Identafi®, is about the size of a power tooth brush, and uses three different wavelengths of light to help detect any suspicious areas in the mouth that would be impossible for us to see with our naked eyes. These suspicious areas, upon further evaluation, are usually benign, but I think you’ll agree that it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
During your next hygiene exam, I will offer you the option of a thorough Identafi® examination and will gladly answer any and all questions. If it has been a while since your last appointment, I recommend that you schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Tracey Coté, RDH
WildRose Dental Hygiene Centre - Suite 101 - 999 Bow Valley
Phone: 403.609.9555