Oral cancer has not demonstrated a decrease in mortality rates over the past century of documentation. The major reason for this is that oral cancers are typically detected late in their progress. By the stage an oral lesion actually appears suspicious during routine examination, it may be dangerous and possibly life-threatening. The typical at-risk population consisted of older males who drank and smoked heavily. Today, this risk-group is more generalized, including younger women and men and nonsmokers. In fact, at least 25% of oral cancer patients have no known risk factors. Fortunately, visible light detection techniques have popularized the need for earlier efforts in the detection of oral cancers and at-risk tissues. These methods, however, cannot rule out the actual presence of dysplasia or cancer. OralCDx Laboratories’ OralCDx BrushTest is a noninvasive, easy-to-administer method for ruling out the presence of dysplasia, which is often visible but blends with common tissue variations. The early diagnosis of dysplasia, while it is still harmless, is the key to preventing oral cancer. Dysplasia and cancer differ in that dysplastic precancerous cells are contained above the basement membrane and are essentially harmless. Cancer cells have penetrated below the basement membrane and can now spread. The BrushTest procedure begins with a visual diagnosis of epithelial color variation, with a visible diagnostic light or directly. The OralCDx brush is swabbed on the suspicious site to help rule out dysplasia. Cellular material is then transferred to the slide, fixed, and then sent to OralCDx, the world’s largest specialized oral pathology lab. The process uses advanced pathology and computer science to analyze each specimen and provides a detailed lab report as well as personalized follow-up support. When diagnosed early and treated, oral cancer can be prevented, in most cases. For more information, call (877) 712-7874 or visit oralcdx.com.