The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the AGD, will focus on training dentists to screen for oral cancer.
"Over the next several years, we will focus our outreach and energy on various initiatives to fight oral cancer," Gerald Botko, DMD, president of the AGD Foundation Board of Directors stated in a press release. "We believe general dentists are the public's first line of defense against this deadly disease."
The AGD Foundation noted that oral cancer is particularly dangerous as it can go unnoticed in its preliminary stages. In many cases, however, dentists can identify its early signs and symptoms.
"The first step in fighting oral cancer is early detection, which includes semiannual visits to a general dentist," Dr. Botko said. "By recognizing the disease in its preliminary stages, general dentists can help increase survival rates."
Following a successful debut event during the AGD 2014 annual meeting in Detroit, the AGD Foundation says it will continue over the next several years to integrate free oral cancer screenings with oral health education for the public.
In addition to free oral cancer screenings, the AGD Foundation aims to provide AGD's 39,000 members with free or low-cost continuing education on the latest oral cancer identification techniques. The AGD Foundation also plans to work with organizations, dental companies, and others who are invested in the cause. To make this happen, the AGD Foundation has initiated a major fundraising effort with AGD members and outside donors.
