Dr. Ruyak Uses VELscope to Screen for Oral Cancer

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Nov. 15, 2016 - PRLog -- Robert B. Ruyak, DMD

(610) 861-0777

www.drrobertruyak.com

Dr. Ruyak Uses VELscope to Screen for Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is one of the most dangerous diseases which patients rely on their dentists to detect. Also called mouth, tongue, and throat cancer, oral cancer can be deadly, and certainly causes severe damage to the face and neck regions. To help identify signs of oral cancer quickly, Dr. Robert B. Ruyak uses a VELscope, a device mounted with a special light, which is highly rated by doctors and researchers as one of the most important tools at a dentist's disposal.

VELscope technology operates by using tissue fluorescence. Mouth tissue naturally emits its own fluorescent light in response to certain other light wavelengths. The light emitted by VELscope is a shade of blue which excites a compound in the mouth called a fluorophore and causes it to shine. This response is perfectly natural and safe, but if a portion of the mouth does not light up in the normal way, that could be a sign that could be a sign or poor health, and merits further investigation.

Though the VELscope is mainly intended and used as a means of detecting oral cancer, there are other abnormalities which can cause unusual patterns of fluorescence. If oral cancer is suspected, Dr. Ruyak or one of his assistants will take a biopsy. This means that they will remove a small section of tissue in order to study it in a laboratory. Taking the sample is not usually painful, and is necessary to determine whether diseased areas are cancerous. Sometimes, the scraping may require anesthesia, but usually, it can be done simply with a brush. If oral cancer is confirmed, Dr. Ruyak and the patient will discuss treatment options such as surgery, drugs, radiation, and referral to an oncologist.

The faster oral cancer is identified, the better the patient's chances of survival. By using the wireless, handheld VELscope, Dr. Ruyak is able to examine the patient's entire mouth, and light up parts of it which are not normally visible. It is important to remember that the most effective ways of preventing oral cancer are to avoid smoking, excessive drinking, and HPV, but oral cancer can happen to anyone, and screenings such as those done with a VELscope are of critical importance to staying healthy.

Robert B. Ruyak, DMD, is based at 2299 Brodhead Road, Suite K, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 18020. To set up an appointment, call 610-861-0777, or visit his website at Dr.RobertRuyak.com (http://www.drrobertruyak.com/), and use the contact form (http://www.drrobertruyak.com/contact_information/).