Metro Dentalcare and Saint Paul Saints Put the Squeeze Play on Oral Cancer This Father's Day

Richfield, MN (PRWEB) June 3, 2007

This Father's Day, Metro Dentalcare will team up with the Saint Paul Saints to raise awareness for oral cancer and stress the importance of early detection.

At Saints games on June 8, 9 and 12 -- the week leading up to Father's Day -- Metro Dentalcare staff and Saints players will be talking about the importance of early detection for oral cancer with attendees by promoting the theme: "Be a Smart Mouth -- Get Screened for Oral Cancer Today." Metro Dentalcare dentists will also be on hand to demonstrate new screening technology that makes early detection quick, easy and painless. To assist in raising awareness for oral cancer screening and research, Metro Dentalcare will donate $10 from each screening performed June 25-30 at any of its 30 general dentistry offices to support oral cancer research.

Until recently, oral cancer screening was limited to a simple visual inspection of the mouth at annual check-ups. Unfortunately, by the time it was visible, patients already were in the advanced stages of the disease. A new device called ViziLite Plus -- recently approved by the FDA -- allows dentists to see abnormal tissue not visible during a regular screening. During the ViziLite screening, oral lesions will "glow white".

"Every year oral cancer claims more lives than cervical cancer yet oral cancer is less publicly recognized. The good news is oral cancer is one of the most curable diseases when caught early," said Dr. Marcus Gustafson, CEO, Metro Dentalcare. "It has always been our standard of care to give our patients the most comprehensive oral cancer screening possible, so we are thrilled to offer new screening technology. It's even better that we have the opportunity to work with the Saints to help Minnesotans understand the importance of early screening, and that new technology is available."

Oral cancer is a growing concern in the baseball community because men are at higher risk and tobacco use and sun exposure are leading causes of the disease.

"We hope our leadership in creating awareness for oral cancer dangers and the importance of early detection will inspire our fans to get screened and help encourage a new generation of ball players and fans to avoid risky behaviors like chewing tobacco and smoking," said Derek Sharrer, general manager and executive vice president of the Saints. "As families gather together to celebrate Father's Day, we hope they'll take this message to heart."

Gustafson encourages all adults -- especially men and those with significant risk factors like tobacco and alcohol use -- to incorporate an advanced oral cancer screening into their annual dental exams. A lesser-known but significant risk factor -- the human papillomavirus (HPV) -- is a growing oral cancer threat for both men and women and may be the reason there has recently been an increase in the incidence of tongue cancer for women. "As more people take advantage of this new early detection screening technology, for the first time in more than 40 years, we may actually see survival rates increase for oral cancer patients."

About ViziLite Plus
ViziLite® Plus is a simple, painless and non-invasive technology that improves the doctor's ability to visualize, mark, evaluate and monitor suspicious oral areas at their earliest stages, before they can progress to something more serious and potentially life-threatening. An annual ViziLite exam, in combination with a regular visual examination, provides a comprehensive oral screening procedure for patients at increased risk for oral cancer. The following is a description of what can be expected during a screening:

•     Patient rinses with a cleansing solution
•     Overhead lighting is dimmed
•     Dental professional examines the mouth using ViziLite light stick technology

About Metro Dentalcare
Metro Dentalcare (http://www.metro-dentalcare.com) offers dental care convenience with morning, evening and weekend appointments at most clinics, online scheduling and more than 30 clinics close to home and work. Metro Dentalcare features a complete range of patient-focused routine, cosmetic and specialized dental health services for every age. Services include preventative care, teeth whitening, oral cancer screening, crowns, veneers, dental implants, oral surgery, endodontics (root canals), periodontics (treatment of gum disease), pediatric dentistry and orthodontics (teeth alignment). Founded in 1968, Metro Dentalcare is one of the fastest growing dental practices in the Twin Cities.

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