VELscope®

Early Visualization Of Mucosal Diseases
VELscope® is a revolutionary hand-held device that provides dentists and hygienists with an easy-to-use adjunctive mucosal examination system for the early detection of abnormal tissue. The patented VELscope® technology platform was developed in collaboration with the British Columbia Cancer Agency and MD Anderson Cancer Center, with funding provided in part by the NIH. It is based on the direct visualization of tissue fluorescence and the changes in fluorescence that occur when abnormalities are present.

How the VELscope® Works
The VELscope® handpiece emits a safe blue light into the oral cavity, which excites the tissue from the surface of the epithelium through to the basement membrane (where premalignant changes typically begin) and into the stroma beneath, causing it to fluoresce. Typically, healthy tissue appears as a bright apple-green glow, while suspicious regions are identified by a loss of fluorescence, which thus appear dark.

The clinician is then able to view the different fluorescence responses to help differentiate between normal and abnormal tissue. In fact, VELscope® is the only non-invasive adjunctive device clinically proven to help discover occult oral disease. Read more about VELscope®…

Benefits Patients, Clinicians and Practice
When used as an adjunctive aid in combination with traditional oral cancer examination procedures, VELscope® facilitates the early discovery and visualization of mucosal abnormalities, including oral cancer. In one or two minutes, with no rinses or stains required, a VELscope® system examination helps healthcare professionals assess their patients’ oral health. Through the CDT code D0431, an increasing number of insurance companies are recognizing VELscope® as an adjunctive screening device. VELscope® combines minimal per-patient costs with more effective screening.