Early oral cancer detection is paramount in forging an effective and successful treatment plan. This is the reason doctors advise the need to have frequent oral cancer screenings. Treatments at the onset stages automatically translate to better patient recovery outcomes. Thanks to technology that is advancing by the day, detecting cancer has now become easy and very precise.
Saliva Testing and Brush Biopsy
Saliva is now being used to detect early signs of cancer. Not only is this method non-invasive but also very fast. The saliva-based test looks into specific biomarkers in the mouth that point to oral cancer. Biomarkers can either be traced in the saliva or the blood. This method is ideal for detection in the very early stages. Brush biopsy on the other hand is brushing through the oral zone in question to collect cells needed for further analysis. As compared to traditional biopsy methods where a mass tissue had to be taken, a brush biopsy is less invasive and does not require time to recover from the procedure.
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Optical images incorporate the use of light to scrutinize cells in the mouth. Changes in cellular formation are the clearest indicator of early signs of cancer. Another form of imaging is fluorescence visualization whose methodology is the same as optical imaging. The only difference is that in fluorescence visualization cancerous tissue cells display a clear-cut fluorescence pattern that is different from the other healthy tissues in the mouth. Besides laboratory interpretations of the changes in the cells, the images can also be analyzed by artificial intelligence. Technology has come up with machine learning algorithms that can detect a variation in patterns. Often AI is used to translate what cannot be seen by the naked eye. Not only is AI very precise but also has a fast turnaround time. What you can do in the meantime is reach out to us. Our doctors will be more than delighted to offer you any dental service you require.
