Dentists & hygienists play a critical role in the discovery of oral cancer!  The Velscope, a device we have been using at The Hartland Smilemakers for a few years now, works on the concept of florescence.  When exposed to Velscope's special high-intensity light, normal cells will "get excited" and floresce back, but cells that have undergone changes on a molecular level will not, revealing dark shadows in the scope.  The Velscope cannot diagnose cancer; however, it can alert the dentist or hygienist to suspicious situations and allow them to make appropriate recommendations.  Velscope is a very safe, painless, inexpensive ($9.00) procedure that allows us to see potential areas of concern that might not be seen with the naked eye.