Q: How often are you screening for oral cancer in your office? Do you or the hygienist do the screening? Do you use any adjunctive devices?
A: A great set of questions, given that April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. The problem is that oral cancer is not limited to one month. Every hour of every day, someone dies from oral cancer, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation. You need to be screening all of your patients during every exam. It is your responsibility!
Past surveys indicate that many dentists do not routinely perform oral cancer screenings. This is unfortunate and risky. The malpractice awards for failing to diagnose oral cancer have been increasing.
Oral cancer has a poor long-term prognosis. The five-year survival rate for oral cancers is just 57%. The biggest reason is late diagnosis. It takes four years for dysplasia to turn into cancer.
Even young males and females are becoming victims of oral cancer, because of the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is transmitted via oral sex. Many of these young victims of oral cancer have no other risk factors.
In our office we screen every patient at every visit, and every employee is part of the oral cancer screening process. The entire staff has been instructed to point out anything that they think may be abnormal. You should always be on the lookout for dysplasia in the oral cavity.
Ultimately the dentist is the responsible party to make the diagnosis or referral, but the more eyes looking the better. At hygiene visits we use adjunctive screening devices such as VELscope (LED Dental) or Identafi (DentalEZ Group). These devices have enabled us to more easily see areas that need closer evaluation.
Every patient should get an oral cancer exam as part of their regular checkups. Also, make sure you tell them that they have had an oral cancer screening after you have performed it. Oral cancer detection is your responsibility!
Marty Jablow, DMD, lectures and consults extensively about integrating technologies into the modern dental practice (www.dentaltechnologycoach.com). If you've got a technology question for Dr. Jablow, send it to [email protected].
The comments and observations expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of DrBicuspid.com, nor should they be construed as an endorsement or admonishment of any particular idea, vendor, or organization.
