Oral Health and Dental Management

The role of general Dentist in the early detection of Oral Cancer

25^th World Congress on Dentistry and Oral Health

March 14-15, 2019 | London, UK

Anwar Hijazi

Private Dental Practice, Jordan

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Oral Health Dent Manag

Abstract:

Background: Oral cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers and one of the top ten causes of death worldwide. Most oral cancers are diagnosed at late stages. Since dentists are typically the first professionals who approached to treat ailments within the oral cavity, so they play a critical role in the early detection of oral cancer. Therefore, they should be well-equipped in detecting suspicious lesions during routine clinical practice.

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the role of general dentists in early detection and referral of suspicious oral lesions, therefore improving survival rates, in addition to investigating methods to improve the general dentists' confidence and skills to perform the early screening.

Method: Online literature review was conducted over the period from Jan 2000-Dec 2017 to all articles of related topics.

Results: The level of knowledge on early signs and risk habits associated with oral cancer was high and the majority reported to have conducted opportunistic screening and advised patients on risk habit cessation. There's also evidence that early diagnosis and referral significantly improve survival.

Conclusion: General practitioners have an important role in the identification and referral of people with oral cancer. Theory-based interventions could include further training to enhance confidence, expertise, knowledge and ease of examination, the provision of adequate equipment in the surgery and increasing the motivation to comply with significant others by introducing guidelines on opportunistic screening.

Biography :

E-mail: noorhijazi92@yahoo.com