AGD Partners With OralID to Provide Oral Cancer Screenings

HOUSTON - Aug. 19, 2014 - PRLog -- During the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) 2014 Annual Meeting & Exhibits in Detroit, the AGD Foundation hosted oral cancer screenings in an effort to increase early detection and public awareness of the disease. Twenty-two dentists conducted thorough head and neck exams for 136 patients, utilizing the proven fluorescence technology of OralID’s oral cancer screening device and setting a high standard for oral cancer examinations.

“Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer, accounting for nearly 5 percent of all cases,” says AGD Spokesperson Vincent Mayher, DMD, MAGD. “More than 43,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year, resulting in more than 8,000 deaths— that’s more than one person every hour.” Oral cancer is particularly dangerous because it can go unnoticed in its preliminary stages. In many cases, however, dentists can detect the disease early, which makes the dental community the first line of defense against oral cancer.

Adjunctive devices like OralID, manufactured by Forward Science Technologies LLC (FST), make it possible to detect abnormal lesions at their earliest stages, which may increase survival rates.

“We designed OralID with community outreach programs in mind,” says FST CEO Robert J. Whitman. “We understand that some of the highest-risk patients are ones who cannot make it to the dental office. Thus, we designed a device that is easy to use and portable, without any restrictions or consumables; this allows for a large number of people to be screened in a short period of time. We also added a camera filter to put on any smartphone or tablet, so dentists can take pictures of any lesions they find. It’s rewarding to be able to give back to the community in such a unique way.”

FST supplied the AGD Foundation with 10 OralID devices for the oral cancer screening event, allowing the volunteers to use the latest technology on annual meeting attendees and members of the public. Whitman personally oversaw the event, along with Dr. Mayher and AGD Foundation Manager Marilyn Mays. “It was great to see the AGD members rally together for a great cause,” Mays says.

About Forward Science Technologies LLC
Forward Science Technologies LLC is a privately held medical device company based in Houston, Texas. With the focus on philanthropy, OralID was designed with community outreach programs in mind. With the launch of CytID, Forward Science Technologies becomes the first company in the United States to provide an oral health protocol, entitled F.A.C.T.  In addition to being the only FDA Cleared oral cancer screening device with no per patient costs, OralID carries a sector leading 2-year warranty.

About the Academy of General Dentistry
The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is a professional association of 39,000 general dentists dedicated to providing quality dental care and oral health education to the public. AGD members stay up-to-date in their profession through a commitment to continuing education. Founded in 1952, the AGD is the second largest dental association in the United States, and it is the only association that exclusively serves the needs and represents the interests of general dentists. A general dentist is the primary care provider for patients of all ages and is responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, management, and overall coordination of services related to patients’ oral health needs. For more information about the AGD, visit www.agd.org. The AGD is a member of the Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives, a first-of-its-kind national dental coalition composed of 37 leading dental health organizations. The Partnership’s campaign is designed to educate parents and caregivers on how to improve their children’s oral health in simple ways. The campaign offers families oral health resources through the website 2min2x.org.