Source: Int Dent J, June 1, 2008; 58(3): 127-33
Author: P Lopez-Jornet et al.

Objective:
To evaluate skill in diagnosing cancer and oral precancerous lesions among general dentists in the Autonomous Community of Murcia (Spain).

Material and Method: 
Twenty randomly distributed clinical images were used, of which 45% corresponded to benign lesions, 35% to oral precancerous lesions, and 20% to oral cancer. Each case was accompanied by a summarised clinical history. The study sample comprised 150 general dentists divided into two groups: group I (60 recently graduated dentists without professional experience) and group II (90 dentists with established professional activity).

Results:
In group I, the sensitivity of oral cancer diagnosis was 61.3% versus 85.5% in group II (p < 0.001), while the sensitivity of precancerous lesion diagnosis was 71.7% in group I versus 80.7% in group II (p = 0.004).

Conclusions:
The results obtained show that junior dentists and general dentists with public or private practice need more training and more experience in diagnosing cancer and oral precancerous lesions.

Authors:
P Lopez-Jornet, F Camacho-Alonso, Y Martinez-Beneyto, and J Seoane-Leston

Authors’ affiliation:
Clínica Odontológica Universitaria Hospital Morales Meseguer, Murcia, Spain