Summary
Today, Dr. Nammy Patel talks about the causes and treatment options for oral cancer. Then, she explains the importance of getting screened for oral cancer four times a year at your dentist's office.
John Maher: Hi, I am John Maher and I’m here today with Dr. Nammy Patel, founder of Green Dentistry in San Francisco, California, helping patients recognize the vital connection between dental, health and whole body health and author of the bestselling books, Age With Style: Guide to a Youthful Smile and Healthy Living and Total Wellness: Understanding the Link Between Your Teeth and Your Health.
Today, our topic is oral cancer. Welcome, Dr. Nammy.
Dr. Nammy Patel: Thank you for having me, John.
Causes of Oral Cancer
John: Sure. Dr. Nammy, what is oral cancer and how is it caused?
Dr. Nammy: Oral cancer is an overgrowth of cells in the oral cavity, and it is like any other cancer. It is uncontrolled and it is one that can lead to death, and we take it very seriously. Oral cancer is on the rise 40% per year. Let me state that again, that’s 40% per year. That is really, really, really high.
And your dentist is the number one person who can help you avoid that. And so when you go into your regular appointments, you want to make sure that you’re getting an oral cancer screening every single time.
When we can catch oral cancer earlier in life or at an earlier stage, the prognosis is so much better and the healing is so much better. And we really just want you to live longer. So if we can help you catch it early, like with any disease, we can nip it versus when it’s too late. When cancer spreads to the rest of your body, it’s really problematic.
Oral Cancer Screening at the Dentist
John: And so explain what you do in the oral cancer screening, and is that something that I need to specifically ask for?
Dr. Nammy: I would. For us, we use a light called the Vizlite, and it’s really wonderful. Or actually, the Orascoptic. I take that back. We used to use a Vizlite. Now we use a special light called the Orascoptic, and it’s really wonderful because, and VELscope, the company’s called Orascoptic, the product is called VELscope, and it’s a really great product because it can actually spot the earlier signs of cellular change.
And when we spot the earlier signs of cellular change, anything that might be cancerous or precancerous, it actually looks a little dark when we use a green light on it. And it’s a great way to be exact. It’s a great way to be able to see deeper into the tissue, see what’s going on. It’s almost like X-ray vision and seeing that there’s something of concern that needs to be addressed.
How to Prevent and Treat Oral Cancer
John: So if you do find oral cancer, how is it then treated?
Dr. Nammy: Well, my number one way would be to prevent oral cancer and prevent any sort of cancer….
John: Sure.
Dr. Nammy: So I actually do microbiological testing because we can actually test for species of bacteria in your mouth that are linked with high risk for cancers and tumors as well. So that’s my number one way of preventing it. We also do oral cancer screenings, which really, really, really help.
Number three. If there was anything cancerous, sometimes we actually excise it, so you cut it out. We use lasers in order to remove the cancer cells. Sometimes we need to send you to a oral surgeon or a regular medical doctor if we suspect that it has metastasized, meaning that your body may have cancerous cells as well.
There’s different modalities on how oral cancer is treated. The key for this is that we want to get it early. When we can get it early and the prognosis is great and it’s also less invasive, and it’s so much better for you.
Causes of Oral Cancer
John: Can things like dental bridges or other types of dental implants actually cause oral cancer?
Dr. Nammy: Dental bridges will not cause oral cancer, nor will implants. What will cause oral cancer is bacterial buildup and bacterial buildup that specifically come from a dry mouth or specifically come from mouth breathing. Those bacteria specifically are linked to cancers and tumors.
Contact Green Dentistry About oral Cancer Screenings
John: And so you recommend getting an oral cancer screening every time you visit your dentist. How often is that that you recommend?
Dr. Nammy: For me, I recommend it to my patients every three months. It really makes a difference, and it’s something your insurance company probably is not going to cover, but it is the best. I think our oral cancer screening is like 20 bucks. It’s the best 20 bucks you’ll ever spend every three months.
John: All right. Well, that’s great advice, Dr. Nammy. Thanks again for speaking with me today.
Dr. Nammy: My pleasure, John.
John: And for more information about Green Dentistry, visit the website at sfgreendentist.com or call 415-433-0119.