One of the best things about being a general dentist is that there is so much I can learn and apply to my dental practice, clinical work and volunteer activities. Like you, my focus is not just on the oral health of my patients but also on their overall health. 

Today, I serve as president of the AGD Foundation and secretary of AGD. I am truly committed to AGD and our members, but I am especially focused on the Foundation’s work in oral cancer awareness, risk factor prevention and diagnostic training for general dentists. That’s why I join my colleagues each year in volunteering at the annual oral cancer screening held during the AGD scientific session. In 2019, we screened over 362 Mohegan Sun staff members and AGD2019 attendees. Of this group, several individuals were referred to specialists for biopsies. Others shared with us the sense of relief that they had access to the free screening. 

It is especially rewarding to help people this way and make them aware that this screening is part of the services provided by general dentists. We are the first line of defense in the fight against oral cancer. We can help win this fight by helping to detect the disease in its early stages during routine dental visits and, by doing so, increase the oral cancer survival rate. 

Diagnosing oral and oropharyngeal cancer isn’t easy. Similar to other medical conditions, oral cancer can be masked as something less serious like a cold sore or blister. That’s why it is so important for all dental providers to conduct a thorough oral screening on all patients annually, along with taking a comprehensive medical history that details tobacco and alcohol use, age, gender, occupation, lifestyle, etc. It is important to ask about symptoms such as sores that do not heal in the mouth; persistent mouth pain; swelling or lumps in the cheeks, jaw or neck; and difficulty chewing, swallowing or speaking.

Getting screened only takes a few minutes, and early detection of oral and oropharyngeal cancer is essential to improving treatment options for individuals who are diagnosed with this disease. According to the American Cancer Society, about 54,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with oral and oropharyngeal cancer this year. Oral and oropharyngeal cancer is typically discovered in its late stages, which leads to a higher death rate. The disease can develop and grow without the patient noticing any obvious symptoms, reducing the chances that it will be diagnosed in the early stages. I encourage all dentists to make oral cancer screenings mandatory procedures during patient visits. 

If you are attending AGD2021, sign up now to join us for our free oral cancer screening event. You can also support the Foundation’s work with a donation or by bidding on items at our upcoming electronic silent auction.

You can learn more about oral cancer in the April issue of AGD Impact. 

There are thousands of lives that can be saved if we each make an effort to provide awareness of this silent killer and ensure that all patients are screened for oral cancer as part of each appointment.