Local dentist warns of life-saving screening in-between check ups, offers free screenings

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Despite the ongoing efforts to lessen the effects of smoking, the American Cancer Society reports that approximately 39,500 people will get some type of oral cancer this year, from which an estimated 7,500 will die and with a total 5-year survival rate of only about 50 percent. Dr. Guy Lewis, eminent dentist of The Woodlands and founder of The Texas Center for Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry, knows that early detection is the key to increasing the survival rate, and has a special offer for patients throughout the rest of the month: free oral cancer screenings.

Oral cancer is particularly dangerous because it is able to prosper without producing pain or other symptoms, making it hard to detect in its early stages. Dr. Lewis has two machines at his Panther Creek neighborhood facility that are designed to screen for oral cancer and provide early detection. Over the past three years, over 1,700 screenings have been conducted at his office. “Fortunately, out of those screenings, few patients were determined to be at risk which may not sound overly concerning, but to those few it meant a life and death difference,” said Lewis. “And oral cancer is eminently more treatable when caught in its early stages.”

While the screenings are already covered by most dental and health insurance plans, Dr. Lewis has a unique plan to take away all excuses to not having them done: for the rest of April, they will be offered completely free of charge. “For Oral Cancer Awareness Month, all of our patients coming in for a regular dental cleaning will receive a free oral cancer screening. If they are uninsured, or if their plans don’t cover the screenings, we will pay for them ourselves,” said Lewis. “The procedure is quick, non-invasive, normally inexpensive, and for a while completely free. Since oral cancer can be fatal or disfiguring, the affordability and simplicity of this test makes it a no-brainer to get screened for early detection.”

To maximize Dr. Lewis’ ability to screen, the Texas Center has not one but two cancer-screening devices available; the VELscope® and the OralID™. Both machines provide a non-invasive procedure that takes only a few minutes to conduct. The fluorescence technology of both these machines allows Dr. Lewis’ clinicians to quickly and confidently identify oral cancer, pre-cancer and other abnormal lesions at an earlier stage, thus saving lives.

As a founder and accredited member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Guy Lewis is a respected and sought-after leader in the field of cosmetic dentistry. At the Texas Center for Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry, Dr. Lewis and his staff provide services catered for the entire lifetime of a family’s dental needs, including professional teeth cleanings, teeth whitening, fillings, implants, root canals, crowns, veneers, and full smile makeovers. The spa-like atmosphere and state-of-the-art technology make going to the dentist an exceptional experience, free of pain and hassle. The Texas Center for Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry is located in the Woodlands, Texas. For more information on how to receive a free oral cancer screening, or to make an appointment for any of the other services offered, call 281-602-3920 or visit www.lovethatsmile.com.