• 6/3/2007
  • Lisle, IL
  • Ben Wasserman
  • foodconsumer.org

Dentists need more training to properly screen oral cancer and provide risk assessment and counseling, suggests a study conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago and published in the Journal of Public Health Dentistry.

The study found more than 92 percent of dentists in Illinois performed oral cancer examinations for their patients, but many were not performing the procedures thoroughly or at optimum intervals.

Some dentists had no thorough understanding of oral cancer and were not doing all they should be doing to detect oral cancers, said Charles LeHew of the UIC Cancer Center’s Center for Population Health and Health Disparities and the Institute for Health Research and Policy.

Researchers surveyed more than 500 dentists in 19 counties in Illinois using a 38-item questionnaire for their knowledge of oral cancer prevention and early detection. And more than 60 percent responded to the survey.

The results show that the majority of dentists correctly identified squamous cell carcinoma, the most common oral cancer. They also knew the most common sites for oral cancer and the most common type of early lesions.

But many could not answer those questions correctly. Further, dentists lacked knowledge needed for risk assessment and counseling. Many did not know age is an important factor for oral cancer and some did not know tobacco and alcohol are two most important factors.

The majority had received continuing education. But training in risk counseling was rare.

Oral or pharyngeal cancer will be diagnosed in approximately 31,000 Americans this year and 8000 will die from the disease. Among those newly diagnosed, only 50 percent may live over 5 years.

The survival rate, which has not been improved for decades, is lower than that for many other types of cancer including cervical cancer, cancer of the brain, liver, tests, kidney or skin.

The researchers say early detection of oral cancer is essential in helping increase the survival rate.

Symptoms of oral cancer include the following, according to the National Cancer Institute.

– Patches inside your mouth or on your lips that are white, a mixture of red and white, or red

– White patches are the most common. White patches sometimes become malignant.

– Mixed red and white patches are more likely than white patches to become malignant.

– Red patches are brightly colored, smooth areas that often become malignant.

– A sore on your lip or in your mouth that won’t heal

– Bleeding in your mouth

– Loose teeth

– Difficulty or pain when swallowing

– Difficulty wearing dentures

– A lump in your neck

– An earache