by Dr Vicky Ho, Advanced Dental Artistry, Mosman Park, WA
The Sapphire Plus is an instrument that screens for oral cancer and identifies early signs of dysplasia. With the death rate from oral cancer higher than that of cervical cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, endocrine system cancer and melanoma, I screen every patient. It is a vital part of the examination.
What’s good about it
A lot of cancerous cells are underneath the surface and not visible to the naked eye. The handpiece shines an intense blue light that activates the natural fluorescence of the tissue. When viewing the fluorescence of the cells through the handpiece, healthy tissue shines a bright green. Dysplastic or neoplastic cells lose that natural fluorescence and appear as dark patches. It allows the operator to view beyond the surface.
This doesn’t replace naked eye examination and it doesn’t diagnose for you but it certainly points out something that you might otherwise miss. When it comes to oral cancer, early detection is always the key.
I also like this tool because it can also be used for teeth whitening and high-speed curing. It works four times faster than normal curing lights.
What’s not so good
The main downside is that it’s quite large and bulky. I’ve emptied out the bottom shelf of my surgery and placed it there. It would be nice if it was cordless but because it has such a high-energy output, that would be impossible. And it is expensive to purchase.
Where did you get it
Denmat. They’re an American supplier.
