Altima Dental launches advanced oral cancer checking program

    Focus on prevention urged: Oral cancer more deadly than breast, cervical
    and prostate

    TORONTO, May 22 /CNW/ - In an effort to shed light on the importance of
oral cancer prevention, Altima Dental is launching an advanced checking
program that will help dentists detect abnormalities in the mouth more readily
than ever before.
    Oral cancer is prevalent and preventable. Three people die from oral
cancer everyday in Canada - making the five-year survival rate of oral cancer
lower than the survival rates of breast, cervical and prostate cancer.
However, the potential for death is significantly reduced if cancer is
detected early, making treatment easier, less invasive and more than 90%
curable.
    "Oral health is important to overall health and at Altima Dental we
believe regular, advanced checking can help detect oral cancer by identifying
it earlier than ever before," says Dr. George Christodoulou, Senior Partner at
Altima Dental.
    Altima Dental's advanced oral cancer check is designed to complement a
regular dental exam. It works like a highlighter to enhance your dentist's
ability to detect any irregular lesions that could be difficult to observe
with the human eye.

    Simple detection aids prevention

    An advanced oral cancer check is simple, painless and only takes a few
minutes. The process involves an oral rinse and a chemiluminescent light
probe. After rinsing with solution, your mouth is examined using the light. A
blue dye stain is applied to irregular areas, illuminating lesions that could
potentially be cancerous.
    "Using an advanced checking method for oral cancer detection is as
essential as undergoing a Pap smear for cervical cancer screening," says
Adriana Gonzalez, a registered dental hygienist and Manager of Quality and
Patient Services at Altima Dental. "It's a well-known fact that a Pap is an
essential part of a woman's yearly physical. An oral cancer check offers the
same type of early detection and is equally important to your overall health
care."

    Oral cancer: The facts

    Age and excessive alcohol and tobacco use are leading risk factors for
oral cancer; however, 25% of those who suffer from the disease have no risk
factors. Recent studies also indicate that infection of the oral cavity with
the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) may also be a risk factor.
    Taking preventative measures such as undergoing an oral cancer check is
the best way to monitor your oral health. Oral cancer is best detected through
a visual examination by your dental practitioner. Since signs and symptoms
often resemble canker sores or other common lesions in the mouth, using a
chemiluminescent light source after the standard oral cancer exam improves the
ability to identify and evaluate suspicious areas at their earliest stages.
The check is quick and painless and follows a regular visual exam.
    Altima Dental recommends Canadians be checked for oral cancer on a yearly
basis. Altima Dental will donate $10 to the Canadian Cancer Society in support
of oral cancer research for every oral cancer check performed during the
months of May and June.

    About Altima Dental:

    Altima Dental is the largest dental group of its kind in Canada. With
over 20 dental centres in convenient locations across Ontario, the Altima
network services almost 200,000 patients yearly. 2008 marks Altima's 15th year
Anniversary.
    General and cosmetic dentistry are offered at all Altima dental centres.
Many centres also offer specialty services, such as orthodontics, Invisalign,
sedation dentistry and oral surgery. The Altima Dental team believes that
cosmetic dentistry is as much an art form as it is a science. They combine
technological prowess and aesthetic ability to enhance and beautify your
smile. Continuing education is an on-going priority, to ensure optimal
treatment options for their patients. Visit www.altima.ca for more
information.

For further information: or to arrange an oral cancer check
demonstration, please contact: Ashley Ballantyne, Argyle Communications, (416)
968-7311 x231, aballantyne@argylecommunications.com