Early diagnosis starts with the dental hygienist

Innovation and prevention serving oral health

The challenge of oral cancer: a silent enemy

Oral health is fundamental to overall well-being — speaking, eating, breathing, and smiling all depend on a healthy mouth. Yet oral cancer remains an underestimated disease.

According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, it is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, with more than 500,000 new cases every year. WHO estimates suggest that by 2040, this number could rise to 1 million.

In Italy, AIRC reports about 4,000 new diagnoses each year, an incidence of 7 cases per 100,000 people, with a five-year survival rate below 50%. This alarming figure is often due to late diagnosis: in its early stages, oral cancer may cause no noticeable symptoms or present only subtle, easily overlooked signs.

Early diagnosis: the key to saving lives

Early recognition is the most effective weapon. When detected at an early stage, the survival rate exceeds 90%. That’s why the dental hygienist plays such a crucial role: thanks to regular check-ups and a relationship of trust with the patient, they are often the first professional to detect suspicious changes.

Integrating a quick, non-invasive, and painless screening procedure in the dental office can make the difference between an early diagnosis and a late discovery with severe consequences.

Goccles: technology that enhances the clinician’s vision

To meet this need, Goccles (Glasses for Oral Cancer Curing Light Exposed Screening) was developed — a medical device patented by Pierrel in collaboration with the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore – Complesso Integrato Columbus. Using autofluorescence technology, Goccles enables a complete screening of the oral mucosa. With the standard curing light available in every dental office, the glasses reveal areas of reduced autofluorescence, a sign of altered cells, making dysplastic or potentially malignant lesions visible that would otherwise remain undetected by the naked eye.