Each year, nearly 50,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with oral cancer. This statistic includes cancers that occur in the mouth itself, on the lips and in the very back of the mouth, an area known as the oropharynx. The number diagnosed yearly has been increasing for he past decade.

Smokers have an 8 times greater risk than the average individual of developing oral cancer, and those who drink alcohol regularly have an 8 times greater risk. For those who both smoke and drink that number jumps to a 16 times greater chance of developing oral or oropharyngeal cancers!

The HPV-16 virus, human papilloma, is a major cause of cervical cancers in women. It is now known to be a growing cause of oral cancers in women 18 years of age and older.

At a young age I was taught to help others and to give back to the community that had given me great opportunity. As a senior at JFK High School, in Bellmore, NY, it culminated with my becoming president of the Key Club, the oldest and largest community service organization in the U.S..

The goal of my office is to give each and every patient better care than they have ever received in any other dental office. Therefore, as a way of giving back to my community, I have for years performed free oral cancer screening on our patients 18 years of age and older as part of their yearly, thorough oral exams. This offer also extends to their family, friends or anyone in the surrounding towns.

For more information on oral cancer, please refer to one of our technology pages on the VELscope by clicking the above free oral cancer screening link.