Addabbo and ProHEALH Dental bring free oral cancer screenings to Howard Beach

This June State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. is collaborating with ProHEALTH Dental to bring free oral cancer screenings to his constituents.

On Saturday, June 15, the medical professionals at the ProHEALTH Dental office located at 163-45 Cross Bay Boulevard in Howard Beach will be performing free oral cancer screenings from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for those that register with Addabbo’s office.

Oral cancer is undetectable to the naked eye, and it may not produce pain or other obvious symptoms, meaning many people do not know they have it until it is too late. The ProHEALTH Dental oral cancer screenings enhanced oral mucosal visual enhancement exams using Identafi technology.

“Since it is nearly impossible to know if you have oral cancer without being tested, early detection is absolutely key,” Addabbo said. “Having poor oral health can lead to other serious diseases like heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and more, so I encourage everyone to sign up and get checked. I am proud to partner with ProHEALTH Dental to bring this free service to the community and help give my constituents a clean bill of health.”

“ProHEALTH Dental is committed to providing high-quality care that aligns with our mission to help patients understand the importance of good oral health as an important element of their overall health and well-being,” said Norton L. Travis, CEO of ProHEALTH Dental.

The oral cancer screening procedure is performed right in the dental chair and it doesn’t hurt. The ProHEALTH Dental professionals use a light with an instrument called Identafi. It uses different wavelengths of light to reveal abnormal tissue in the mouth, such as oral cancer, that may not be apparent to the naked eye during traditional oral exams.

Studies from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research show that early detection increases the five-year survival rate for oral cancer from 32 to 83 percent.

This event is free to the public aged 17 and older, and no insurance is required to participate. Registrants will have to fill out a consent form and wait their turn. The screening procedure only takes about five minutes.

In order to register for this free event, call Addabbo’s Howard Beach office at 718-738-1111 to leave your name and email address.