Celebrity Dentist Dr. Catrise Austin of VIP Smiles Takes a Stand Against Oral Cancer During Oral Cancer Awareness Week, April 16 - 22

Oral cancer claims an average of one American life every hour, and it's overall the sixth most-prevalent form of cancer. Tobacco use and heavy alcohol use are the biggest contributors. When diagnosed very early, it is relatively easy to treat and cure. Oftentimes, however, it is diagnosed too late. Celebrity Dentist Dr. Catrise Austin of VIP Smiles has joined forces with the Yul Brynner Head and Neck Cancer Foundation to sponsor the 9th annual Oral, Head & Neck Cancer Awareness Week, April 16th-22nd. The week's activities include a limited number of free oral cancer screenings and outreach presentations at local middle schools.

New York, NY (PRWeb) April 16, 2007 -- Celebrity Dentist Dr. Catrise Austin of VIP Smiles has joined forces with the Yul Brynner Head and Neck Cancer Foundation to sponsor the 9th annual Oral, Head & Neck Cancer Awareness Week, April 16th-22nd. The week's activities include a limited number of free oral cancer screenings and outreach presentations at local middle schools.

Dr. Austin said, "Over the years, as the rates for many cancers have steadily improved, oral cancer rates have remained stubbornly stagnant. Oral cancer actually claims an average of one American life every hour, and it's overall the sixth most-prevalent form of cancer. When diagnosed very early, it is relatively easy to treat and cure." She continued, "Unfortunately, we as dental professionals are not doing a good enough job in finding these cancers early enough to help save lives."

To support the effort against oral cancer, Dr. Austin will be conducting a limited number of free oral cancer screenings in her office from April 16th-19th.

Dr. Austin says, "Oral cancer often first appears as a white or red lesion, visible to the naked eye that exists for more than 2 weeks. Patients may also feel tenderness or pain in the mouth that lasts longer than two weeks, or detect a lump in the mouth. At this stage, however, it is often too late, highlighting the importance of early detection."

Dr. Austin recommends and uses the latest technology available for oral cancer diagnosis, ViziLite Plus, for her patients. She explains, "A ViziLite Plus exam takes less than five minutes, and is safe and painless. Here's how it works. The patient swishes with a special mouth rinse. Then the dentist examines the patient's mouth using the ViziLite Plus glow stick. The glow stick highlights oral abnormalities and lesions not normally visible to the naked eye. If abnormalities are detected, we highlight them with a blue dye and immediately refer the patient to a medical specialist for further examination and treatment."

Dr. Austin recommends oral cancer screenings at least once per year as part of a routine checkup and cleaning visit. She recommends exams twice a year for those with predisposing risk factors, such as tobacco use (including chewing tobacco), heavy drinking or a family history of oral cancer. She says, "If you or a loved one has any of these risk factors, I strongly encourage you to contact your dental professional about getting an exam, particularly during Oral Cancer Awareness Week."

About VIP Smiles
For more information about screenings and dental health, contact Dr. Catrise Austin of VIP Smiles at 212-262-6054 (located at 119 W. 57th Street, Suite 512, New York, NY 10019). At VIP Smiles, Dr. Austin "Creates Hollywood Smiles in The Heart of Manhattan." Her clients include America's Next Top Model winner Eva Pigford, The Apprentice's diva Omarosa, Grammy award winning rappers Missy Elliot, Busta Rhymes, and Common, Broadway's sensation Sara Jones, as well as music legend Isaac Hayes, to name a few.

For more information on the ViziLite Plus exam, visit www.vizilite.com.

For more information on the Yule Brenner Head and Neck Cancer Foundation, visit www.headandneck.org.

Press Contact: Dr. Catrise Austin
Company Name: VIP Smiles
Email: Email Us Here: http://www.prweb.com/emailmember.php?prid=519022
Phone: 212-262-6054
Website: www.vipsmiles.com

Press Release Source: EMediaWire