Press Release Summary: Dr. Friedman and Dr. Schulhof are the only dentists in the area currently using VELscope. VELscope can help screen for oral cancer quickly, easily and safely
Press Release Body: Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey- May 22, 2008 - When patients go to the dentist for a cleaning, they're not thinking about the possibility of cancer. But dentists are on the front line when it comes to detecting possible lesions in the mouth. Recently, Dr. Jerald Friedman and Dr. Zev Schulhof, oral surgeons with practices in Teaneck and New York, showed over 170 dentists how a device called VELscope can help them screen for oral cancer quickly, easily and safely. The seminar, given at the Clinton Inn in Tenafly, introduced and demonstrated VELscope to the participating dentists.
Dr. Friedman and Dr. Schulhof are the only dentist in the area currently using VELscope and both strongly suggest that other dentists should invest in this technological advanced equipment for their offices. Both dentists are getting the word out now to general dentists in the hopes that they will begin using VELscope and refer patients with suspicious lesions to him for biopsies. "Like other cancers, oral cancer can be treated most effectively when it's caught early," says Dr. Friedman. "If general dentists screen at the time of their patients' regular check- ups, many lives can be saved."
VELscope is a hand-held device designed to be used only by a dentist or health-care provider as an adjunct to traditional oral examinations. The device emits a safe blue light into the oral cavity. Under this light, abnormal tissue has a different appearance than the normal, green fluorescence pattern of healthy tissue that is not apparent to the naked eye with incandescent lighting. VELscope also helps surgeons identify diseased tissue around lesions to more accurately determine the margins for surgical excision.
Dr. Friedman hoped widespread use of VELscope will alter the statistics on surviving oral cancer. The overall 5-year survival rate is 52% but that rises to 90% when oral cancer is caught early. However, only 33% of oral cancer cases are diagnosed in the early stages because the pre-malignant changes begin below the surface where they can't be seen. The VELscope light excites the tissue through to the basement membrane and stroma beneath causing it to fluoresce. The clinician can then see the difference between normal and abnormal tissue. Dr. Schulhof is passionate in providing awareness and education about early detection for Oral Cancer, he has made this one of his missions and continues to lecture across the state pro-bono.
About Dr. Jerald Friedman Friedman is an accomplished oral and maxillofacial surgeon with attending duties at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, NJ and Mount Sinai in New York City. He has professional affiliations with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, The American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The American Dental Society of Anesthesiology and The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Dr. Friedman earned his dental degree from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, after which he completed four years of hospital-based surgical and anesthesia training that included a general practice dental residency at Beth Israel Medical Center and an oral surgery residency at The Mount-Sinai Medical Center. Following graduation, he taught part time at Mount Sinai and Elmhurst Hospital, and served as an associate for an oral surgeon in Marlboro. Dr. Friedman practices at North Jersey Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Teaneck, New Jersey. He resides in Bergen County with his wife Esther, and their six children: three boys and three girls.
About Dr. Zev Schulhof About Dr. Zev Schulhof
Dr. Zev Schulhof is an Oral & maxillofacial surgeon as well as a Physician. Dr. Schulhof practices at North Jersey Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Teaneck, New Jersey and is an Attending Surgeon at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. Dr. Schulhof attended Touro College in New York where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. Dr. Schulhof then attended Dental School at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey where he graduated at the top of his class. He then obtained his M.D. from Mount Sinai Medical School in New York. Dr Schulhof completed a General Surgery Internship as well as an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgical Residency at Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr. Schulhof was Chief Resident, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York and has published articles regarding Oral & Maxillofacial pathology in national publications. Dr. Schulhof lectures nationally on various topics including Cosmetic Surgery, Oral Pathology, Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Bone Grafting as well as on Implantology. Dr. Schulhof is a Diplomat of the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery as well as a Member of the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. Presently Dr. Schulhof resides in Teaneck, New Jersey with his wife and three children.
For more information or interviews with Dr. Jerald Friedman or Dr. Zev Schulhof, please contact Angela Thomas at Angela@pranamarketing.com or (201) 503-1333.