April is National Oral Cancer Awareness Month and we’re reminded of the importance of oral cancer screenings and early detection that can save lives
By Stan Goff, Senior Content Editor
April is National Oral Cancer Awareness Month and it’s a great time to remind everyone that dentists and early detection can save lives. Because of this, it is imperative that clinicians are aware of the importance of their role and what all is available to help them save lives.
Because oral cancer has gotten more prevalent over the years, dentists can and should play a big role in detecting the disease and therefore need to know that there are technologies and products available to screen patients quickly and easily.
Dentists are often the first health professionals to notice the signs of oral cancer, which can appear inside the mouth and throat or on the tonsils and tongue. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends dentists watch for signs of oral cancer, because finding it early can be the key to successful treatment. The ADA reports that more than 54,000 people are diagnosed each year in the U.S., and around 11,000 die from oral cancer.
The Oral Cancer Foundation proclaims that April is a vital time to raise awareness and for the dental industry to act. The Foundation asks for support to help fund early detection programs, research, and patient care that can save lives. Encouraging screenings and just spreading the word can also have a positive impact. While April is the designated month for this awareness initiative, dental practices should be on the lookout for oral cancer all the time and there are valuable tools and products that allow them to screen quickly and easily.
So, knowing what is available, what patients should be screened more regularly, and considering making oral cancer screenings a regular part of everyday routine oral exams can make a big difference in combating oral cancer.
Most cases of oral cancer can be effectively treated, but early detection is often the key. The goal of oral cancer screening is to identify mouth cancer early when there is a greater chance for a cure. Dentists can help ensure patients with suspicious lesions are examined early by offering simple oral cancer screenings.
According to the ADA, oral cancers are classified in two groups:
• Cancers of the oral cavity: This group affects the lips, teeth, gums, the front two-thirds of the tongue, the floor and roof of the mouth and the inside of your cheeks.
• Cancers of the oropharynx: These oral cancers are found in the throat, tonsils, the base of the patient’s tongue, and the spot where it attaches to the floor of their mouth. Your throat (pharynx) starts at the soft part of the roof of your mouth and continues back into your throat.
There are key proactive oral health habits, such as regular check-ups with your dentist or healthcare provider, that can help ensure that oral cancer is detected at its earliest stages. Once diagnosed, however, surgery is a common treatment for oral cancer, depending upon where the tumor is, its size, and if it has spread, states the American Cancer Society. Reconstructive surgery is also needed in some cases to repair the damage caused by taking out the tumor. It can also help restore the way your body works and looks.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) has also been linked with throat cancers that form at the back of the mouth. According to the ADA, HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the U.S., with about 10% of adult males and 3.6% of females carrying the virus. Most of these infections go away within two years, but some stay.
During regular exams, clinicians should ask patients about changes in their medical history and whether they’ve been having any new or unusual symptoms. During the visit, they will then check lips, cheek lining, gums, tongue (front and back), the floor and roof of mouth, the throat, tonsils and the area where the tongue meets the bottom of the mouth. Additionally, the ADA recommends this routine screening include examining the jaw and neck for lumps or unusual signs.
In recent years dental manufacturers have armed clinicians with technology designed to make oral cancer screenings convenient and effective. Some of the many developments include the Oral Health Pro™ from Viome Life Sciences, the VELscope® Vx from LED Dental and Apteryx, Inc., the Bio/Screen Oral Examination Light from AdDent, Inc., and Forward Science’s OralID.
For additional information, the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research makes available a protocol for dental practitioners for an oral cancer examination, and the ADA provides information on oral cancer as well as ADA guidelines at ADA.org/resources/research/science-and-research-institute/evidence-based-dental-research/oral-cancer-guideline.
FEATURED IMAGE CREDIT: Shutterstock
