Periodontal disease is known as the “silent” disease because many patients don’t have symptoms until it’s too late. Another issue often faced until it’s too late is oral cancer. At high risk are patients 50-years of age and older who have in the past or present used tobacco or have been diagnosed with or have immediate family history of oral cancer, with signs that may include consistent sores or ulcers, difficulty or discomfort swallowing, change in voice, and lumps or swelling present in the mouth or throat.
 
In the past, early detection technology was limited, resulting in only 28 percent of patients receiving an early diagnosis—a significant concern, given that those diagnosed in the early stages have a 44 percent higher survival rate than those diagnosed in late stages.
 
VIOME™ offers a simple saliva test for patients to do at home. Studies show that patients who have done the VIOME™ CancerDetect Oral + Throat Saliva Test have a 40 percent, five-year survival rate with late-stage oral cancer and 84 percent have been diagnosed in early stages.
 
Location: 6700 Crosswinds Dr., Ste. 200-B, St. Petersburg. For more information and to schedule an appointment, call 727-384-9122 or visit tbPerio.com.