As a means of detecting oral cancers at an early stage, Dr. Hakim now offers VELscope, a ground breaking new non-evasive technology that allows the dentist to more accurately identify tissue changes.
This simple hand held devise emits a bright blue light to highlight any changes in your mouth that a dentist could not see with the naked eye. During your dental examination we will shine this light over your tongue, cheeks, and lips. Healthy tissue will fluoresce or glow, while unhealthy tissue will absorb the light and show as a dark shadow. The blue light of the VELscope defines the borders of a cancerous lesion that would otherwise be invisible.
Most people are aware that the fluorescence technology used by VELscope can help a doctor locate oral cancer and premalignant dysplasia. But the fluorescence technology can also help the attending clinician locate lichen planus, lichenoid mucositis, squamous papillomas, candidiasis, viral and bacterial infections as-well-as inflammation from a variety of causes (e.g. trauma) and even salivary gland tumors.
Dr. Hakim provides VELscope screening with each annual exam at no additional cost to his patients. In addition, the VELscope screening only takes one or two minutes.
