Smile Lines - Summer 2005

Screening For Oral Cancer

ViziLite™ chemiluminescent technology

Chandler Dentist Now we have new wellness exam technology that dramatically improves our ability to screen for oral abnormalities that could lead to cancer. Because early detection is essential to increase chances for successful treatment, we always check your whole mouth (tongue, lips, cheek lining, and gums). We have acquired ViziLite™, a state-of-the-art, painless, non-invasive screening tool that helps us to see what we can't see with the unaided eye during your routine oral cancer checkup.

What can you expect during a ViziLite examination?
We'll ask you to rinse vigorously with a safe, non-toxic solution for 30-60 seconds. The solution tastes a bit vinegary. After you rinse, we'll dim the lights and take a look inside your mouth with a special light that looks much like a glow-stick. The entire procedure takes only about ten minutes. All of the screening kit components are discarded after use, so you will be the only patient ever tested with that kit.

Because the chemiluminescent technology will highlight any surface irregularities including normal scarring from chewing or rubbing on your gums or cheek, we mark everything down on a map or atlas of your mouth. This gives us a baseline for future reference.

We want all of our patients to have a bright and smiling future. And because in its earliest, most treatable stages, oral cancer usually causes no pain or discomfort, we will perform this test for you every year.

Prevent Gum Disease...

Prolong life!

Scientific research has focused on how so many elements of our natural world are linked to each other: how change in one part of our environment can have a huge impact on other areas, such as on different plants or species. The same is true of our own bodies. A major push has been to discover the links between our oral health and our general health. Evidence supports a strong link between periodontal (gum) disease and other medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, oral cancer, and even Alzheimer's.

New research brings new information that in turn generates better treatments for periodontal disease. We believe that prevention is the best remedy of all. It's as simple as brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and keeping your regular dental appointments!

In Good Taste

Clean tongue ... clear palate!

If you've ever tried to curl your tongue into a tube, you know that practicing won't help. That's because it's a genetic trait. Similarly, taste palates vary from person to person.

Each of our 10,000 taste buds contains at least 300,000 receptors. The tongue's tip is sensitive to sweetness, while salty and sour are sensed on the sides, bitterness at the back.

Plaque coatings can dull taste receptors, and cleansing the tongue can enhance our taste palates and help maintain oral health. When you brush your teeth, gently brush your tongue with your toothbrush. Or rinse a clean teaspoon under warm water, then place the open side down on your tongue, and drag it forward. Cleaning your tongue regularly makes your mouth healthier, breath sweeter, and food tastier.

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Sheldon Sullivan, DDS - Providing cosmetic dentistry and dental implants to the Tempe, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler and Phoenix, Arizona areas.

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