CORVALLIS, Ore. - Your next teeth cleaning could save your life. Dentists use a new device called the "Velscope" to detect oral cancer before it surfaces.

"Dentists are the gatekeepers of the oral cavity, and it's our responsibility to catch diseases as early as possible," said Dr. Kurt Black with Timberhill Dental in Corvallis.

Here's how it works. The Velscope gives off a blue light on the inside of a patient's mouth. Oral tissues then react to that flourescent light. Through the scope, a healthy mouth turns light green. Problem areas shine maroon.

About 34,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer each year and more than half of those won't live five years past diagnosis. "It is amazing how little attention oral cancers get," said Dr. Black, "because getting oral cancer is more common than getting cervical cancer."

The Velscope does not diagnose but rather it just finds areas that look suspicious. If detected early, 90 percent of oral cancer cases are curable.

The Velscope examination takes less than five minutes. Dr. Black said since they first got the device a couple months ago, he's used it on every patient that's walked through his door and has already found a few patients that need a second look.