The VELscope is a non-invasive diagnostic tool that can aid in the detection of oral cancer. The bright blue light from the tool is shone into the mouth and illuminates the intraoral tissue. Healthy tissues will absorb the light, while unhealthy areas such as lesions or cancerous/pre-cancerous cells will be highlighted. The results of the VELscope tool and other screening techniques need to be interpreted by an experienced dentist.

This tool is used in our typical oral cancer screening process alongside other techniques, including visual and manual inspections of the tissue in and around the mouth, head, and neck.

These tests are used for screening purposes only, which means they are not conclusive. If our dental team has concerns after the screening process, we will refer you for further medical testing to confirm whether cancer is present. Survival rates for oral cancer are relatively high when caught early.