This document discusses the importance of oral cancer screenings during dental exams. It notes that over 38,000 new oral cancer cases are diagnosed each year in the US, killing approximately 9,000 people. The document provides guidance on screening procedures, abnormalities to look for, documentation methods, and educating patients on oral cancer risks. The goal is to detect precancerous or cancerous lesions early through regular screenings to improve survival rates.

2.  There are over 38,000 new cases of oral
cancer diagnosed each year.
 Oral cancer kills approx. 9,000 people
each year in the U.S.
 It has a low survival rate.
 Lives can and must be saved by
performing this simple exam.

3.  5-15% of all dental patients have oral
abnormalities.
 The vast majority of these are truly
benign.
 Detecting those that are precancerous is
the key to improving survival of oral
cancer patients.

4.  Screen each patient at every
appointment to detect lesions that may
be pathologic.
 Identify suspect lesions that require
additional testing and referral.
 Prevent advanced or irreversible disease
by recognition.

5.  The complete examination should include
both inspection and digital palpation of
extra and intra oral structures.
 Oral tissues are an indicator of your patients
overall health
 Abnormal conditions can be recognized if
the appearance of normal oral structures is
known.
 The color and size of structures may vary
with genetic patterns and age.

6.  Lips
 Lateral surface of tongue
 Retromolar pads
 Buccal mucosa
 Floor of mouth
 Hard & soft palate
 Gingiva

8.  White areas: Vary from filmy, barely
visible change in the mucosa to a
heavy, thick, heaped up area of dry
white keratinized tissue.
 Leukoplakia: White patch that can not
be scraped off. Found on lips, tongue,
and lining of the mouth.
 Red areas: Lesions of red, velvety
consistency, sometimes with small ulcers.

9.  Erthtoplakia: Used to designate lesions that
appear as red patches that can’t be
characterized as any specific disease.
 Ulcers: They may have flat or raised
margins. Palpation may reveal induration.
 Masses: elevations above the surrounding
tissues, or below mucosa found by
palpation.
 Pigmentation: black or brown pigmented
areas maybe located on mucosa where
pigmentation doesn’t normally occur.

10.  Localized: lesion is limited to a small focal
area.
 Generalized: involves most of an area of
section of the mouth.
 Single: one lesion of a particular type with a
distinct margin.
 Multiple lesions: more than one lesion of a
particular type.
› Separate- discrete, not running together.
› Coalescing- close to each other with margins
that merge.

11.  A- anatomic location (i.e. left buccal
mucosa adjacent to #14)
 B- boarder (i.e. well demarcated)
 C- color & configuration (i.e. red, linear)
 D- diameter & dimensions (i.e. 4mm x
2mm x 1mm in height)
 T- type (i.e. macule)

12.  Explain procedure to patient( what
youre doing and why)
 Remove all removable prostheses.
 Use visual inspection and palpation
technique with optimal lighting
 Use mirror and retractors when
necessary.

13.  Visually inspect the entire oral cavity and
oropharynx.
 Use the dental light and mirror to look for
any conditions (i.e. herpetic lesion)

14.  Examine the patient at each
appointment.
 Ensure a thorough health history.
 Educate on behaviors that increase risk
of oral cancer.
 Identify and document suspicious lesions.
 Refer to obtain a definitive diagnosis.
 Follow up to make sure diagnosis was
made.

15.  Bifid uvula
 Fordyce granules
 Ankyloglossia
 Fissured tongue
 Geographic tongue
 Mandibular torus
 Buccal exostoses
 Palatinus torus
 Linea alba