Company joins fight against oral cancer

March 29, 2007
During April, Midwest Dental will be donating $20 of each oral cancer screening to The Oral Cancer Foundation.

Approximately 34,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with oral cancer in 2007. When discovered early, oral cancers have an 80 to 90 percent cure rate.

Approximately 34,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with oral cancer in 2007. When discovered early, oral cancers have an 80 to 90 percent cure rate.

Unfortunately, the majority of oral cancer is found at its late stage, and accounts for a very high death rate. For these reasons, Midwest Dental is committed to the fight against oral cancer.

Unfortunately, the majority of oral cancer is found at its late stage, and accounts for a very high death rate. For these reasons, Midwest Dental is committed to the fight against oral cancer.

During April, Midwest Dental will be donating $20 of each oral cancer screening to The Oral Cancer Foundation.

During April, Midwest Dental will be donating $20 of each oral cancer screening to The Oral Cancer Foundation.

Midwest Dental doctors will continue to offer ViziLite Plus with TBlue, an FDA approved oral cancer screening tool. ViziLite Plus is a quick and painless exam. The patient uses a rinse to dry the tissue in the mouth.

Midwest Dental doctors will continue to offer ViziLite Plus with TBlue, an FDA approved oral cancer screening tool. ViziLite Plus is a quick and painless exam. The patient uses a rinse to dry the tissue in the mouth.

Using a special glow stick, the dentist looks for abnormalities. Anything that is abnormal appears white, while healthy tissue absorbs the light and appears dark.

Using a special glow stick, the dentist looks for abnormalities. Anything that is abnormal appears white, while healthy tissue absorbs the light and appears dark.

"Midwest Dental is dedicated to improving oral cancer awareness and recognizes that early detection is the key to reducing the mortality rate and invasive surgeries associated with this disease," said Dr. Jeffrey Moos, CEO of Midwest Dental. "We are proud to provide advanced oral cancer screenings to our patients."

"Midwest Dental is dedicated to improving oral cancer awareness and recognizes that early detection is the key to reducing the mortality rate and invasive surgeries associated with this disease," said Dr. Jeffrey Moos, CEO of Midwest Dental. "We are proud to provide advanced oral cancer screenings to our patients."

As with other types of cancer, age is the primary risk factor for oral cancer, with 90 percent of oral cancer victims being 40 and older; however, all adults age 18 and older are considered to be at increased risk for oral cancer.

As with other types of cancer, age is the primary risk factor for oral cancer, with 90 percent of oral cancer victims being 40 and older; however, all adults age 18 and older are considered to be at increased risk for oral cancer.

According to The Oral Cancer Foundation, other risk factors include:

According to The Oral Cancer Foundation, other risk factors include:

* Tobacco use
* Excessive alcohol consumption
* Excessive unprotected exposure to the sun
* Low intake of fruits and vegetables

* Tobacco use
* Excessive alcohol consumption
* Excessive unprotected exposure to the sun
* Low intake of fruits and vegetables

Risk factors that are not controllable include:

Risk factors that are not controllable include:

* Age--older individuals tend to develop more disease in general

* Age--older individuals tend to develop more disease in general

* HPV viral infection--a prevalent sexually transmitted virus

* HPV viral infection--a prevalent sexually transmitted virus

* Race, ethnicity, and economics--there are socio-economic factors that influence the development of cancers in different groups of people. For instance, while not related to biology, African Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer 2 to 1 versus other races. In addition, people who live in areas with poor access to healthcare, or for economic reasons, do not routinely visit a dentist or doctor, are also at increased risk.

* Race, ethnicity, and economics--there are socio-economic factors that influence the development of cancers in different groups of people. For instance, while not related to biology, African Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer 2 to 1 versus other races. In addition, people who live in areas with poor access to healthcare, or for economic reasons, do not routinely visit a dentist or doctor, are also at increased risk.

* Recurrence--previous head and neck cancer patients have a higher risk of cancer recurrence.

* Recurrence--previous head and neck cancer patients have a higher risk of cancer recurrence.

* Gender--statistically males get oral cancer more often than females.

* Gender--statistically males get oral cancer more often than females.

"Midwest Dental realizes the importance of detecting oral cancer in its early stages," said Brian Hill, founder of OCF. "As a late stage survivor myself, I am a strong advocate for oral cancer screenings and feel that Midwest Dental is helping to increase oral cancer awareness."

"Midwest Dental realizes the importance of detecting oral cancer in its early stages," said Brian Hill, founder of OCF. "As a late stage survivor myself, I am a strong advocate for oral cancer screenings and feel that Midwest Dental is helping to increase oral cancer awareness."

Midwest Dental continuously evaluates new technologies to further improve and enhance the early detection of oral cancer. An oral cancer screening takes three to five minutes and can save lives. In addition, regular dental checkups and examinations can lead to the detection of oral cancer when they are at an earlier, more treatable stage.

Midwest Dental continuously evaluates new technologies to further improve and enhance the early detection of oral cancer. An oral cancer screening takes three to five minutes and can save lives. In addition, regular dental checkups and examinations can lead to the detection of oral cancer when they are at an earlier, more treatable stage.

To locate a Midwest Dental clinic, visit Midwest Dental.

To locate a Midwest Dental clinic, visit Midwest Dental.