The Dr. Richard E. Betor Cosmetic
Dental Group

Vizilite Oral Cancer Detection

Smile Procedures:

  • Cosmetic



21851 Center Ridge Rd
Suite 307
Rocky River OH 44116

Tel. (440) 333-3766

Dr. Betor is a member of:
Best Benefits Club
Better Business Bureau

Smart Business Network
Sponsored by
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Network.

Vizilite Oral Cancer Detection

Shedding Some Light on Oral Cancer Screening

There’s a pap test, prostate check and mammogram, but no official test for oral cancer…until now!

With more than 30,000 new cases of oral cancer diagnosed each year in the United States, Dr. Betor thinks that number is too high. And unfortunately, the oral cancer mortality rate has not improved significantly in the last 40 years. In fact, every hour of every day, one American dies of oral cancer. Dr. Betor hopes a chemiluminescent light source called ViziLite will shed some light on early diagnosis and save some lives.

Dr. Betor recently integrated the ViziLite Plus with TBlue oral lesion identification and marking system into his practice. This tool is being used in addition to the conventional head, neck and mouth exam his patients are given. The system is comprised of a chemiluminescent light source to improve the identification of lesions, and a blue phenothiazine dye to mark those lesions identified by the ViziLite. The ViziLite system is FDA-approved and virtually 100% effective. It is manufactured by Zila, Inc. a Phoenix-based corporation.

How the ViziLite Works:
The patient rinses with the ViziLite solution, and then the oral cavity is viewed under the chemiluminescent light. Normal tissue will absorb the light and appear dark. Abnormal tissue will appear white when viewed under the ViziLite’s diffuse, low-energy wavelength light.

Age is the primary risk factor for oral cancer. Approximately 90% of oral cancer victims are age 40 and older, but recent studies indicate that increasingly, patients younger than age 40 are being diagnosed with oral cancer. Though tobacco and alcohol use are the primary lifestyle risk factors contributing to the development of oral cancer, 27% of oral cancer victims do not use tobacco or alcohol. Oral cancer affects more men than women (2:1), but oral cancer in women is on the rise nationwide. The American Cancer Society projects that almost as many women will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year as cervical cancer.

Well-known oral cancer victims have included:  Sigmund Freud, Babe Ruth, Aaron Spelling, Hunphrey Bogart, Eddie Van Halen, Lana Turner, Rod Stewart, George Harrison and Sammy Davis, Jr.

Dr. Betor has made this investment in technology to continue to offer his patients the latest in complete oral health. For more information on the oral cancer screening light, or to book a consultation, call (440) 333-3766.