DECA Dental Group partners with Forward Science to offer OralID enhanced oral cancer screening to patients nationwide

Availability of Oral Cancer Screening Technology to More Patients Can Help Save Lives 

Houston, TX (November 2023) - DECA Dental Group announced today that they are partnering with Forward Science to utilize OralID to strengthen their oral cancer screening process as a leader in bringing the latest advancements in oral care to their guests. Forward Science, a vertically integrated MedTech company based in Houston, Texas, was founded in 2012 with the mission to change lives through innovative, cost-effective products. 

While most cancers have been improving the survival rates for patients, oral cancer is a rare cancer that has not increased survival rates in over 3 decades. Breast, prostate, cervical, and many of the more known cancers have incorporated advanced technology to screen patients annually, resulting in early discovery and better prognosis for patients. “Increasing patient education and overall awareness around oral cancer begins in the dental chair. Incorporating advanced technology to discover cancer early is paramount for our guests,” states DECA Dental’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shalin Patel. “With OralID, we will potentially be able to discover oral cancer at its earliest stages, providing us the opportunity to help save lives in the communities we serve.” 

In 2023, data shows that more than 54,000 individuals will be diagnosed with oral cancer in the U.S. alone. About 70 percent of these oral cancer diagnoses are found in late stages (stages three and four) and result in a startling five-year survival rate that is below 50 percent. Identifying these abnormalities earlier can raise the survival rate to as high as 90 percent. By making OralID® available to their patients, practitioners in the DECA Dental network are helping break down barriers to oral cancer detection and getting patients access to screenings to encourage early stage oral cancer detection.

 “Forward Science believes that ‘we can defeat cancer; cancer will not defeat us,’” said Robert J. Whitman, Forward Science CEO. “Partnering with an advanced and growing group like DECA will allow us to achieve our goals to save lives through early discovery. We are excited about what two Texas based companies can do in partnering together. Reaching millions of patients through DECA’s network and encouraging early screening with the latest technology for oral cancer improves the odds of detection in a treatable stage, which we believe could change the trend in oral cancer impact for Americans.” 

Forward Science looks forward to partnering with DECA Dental to enhance their oral cancer screening initiatives and move science forward. 

To learn more about OralID and Forward Science, visit ForwardScience.com. 


About Forward Science 
Forward Science is a privately help MedTech company based in Houston, Texas. Forward Science was founded in 2012 by two biomedical engineers with the goal of innovating technology to change more lives. Forward Science’s flagship product, OralID, is an awardwinning oral cancer screening device that allows clinicians to visualize abnormalities that may not be seen under traditional examinations. 


About DECA Dental Group
 DECA Dental Group is a Dallas-based clinician-founded and clinician-led dental service organization started by Founder, Chairman & CEO Dr. Sulman Ahmed. The company has been delivering high-quality dental care to patients since 2008. DECA is actively expanding its footprint coast-to-coast under the Ideal Dental brand. DECA's culture is founded on a patientcentric model. The company is guided by its vision to be the premier provider of all dental services under one roof while being the first choice for dentists and staff seeking a partner for growth, innovation, and learning. To learn more, please visit decadental.com and myidealdental.com.