Early detection of oral cavity cancer

Abstract:

Oral cancer (OC) ranks the 11th place of the causes of mortality from malignant diseases in Croatia. Although the incidence is slightly decreasing, its mortality rate is stable. Its late detection is the main cause of high mortality. Early diagnosed cases would have a good prognosis. The main risk factors are tobacco and alcohol. Dentists play an important role in primary prevention of  OC through smoking cessation activities. There is a tremendous potential for the dentists role in the OC secondary prevention through its early detection. since a thorough clinical examination of the oral mucosa and a good knowledge of oral structures should be an integral part of each dental appointment. The third level is a permanent care for the oral health in patients undergoing head and neck radiation, primarily through the reduction of mucositis and the prevention of radiation caries and osteoradionecrosis. Dentists are frequently not able to perform early detection of OC, as most of the high-risk individuals do not visit the dentist at all. However, due to their comorbidities, they are seen by their family physicians. Improvement of early diagnosis could be ensured by the partnership of family medicine physicians and the primary health care dentists, espacialy in primary healthcare Centers, where the family medicine physician would identify the patient at risk, and then immediately arrange a brief examination of the oral cavity at a dentist, who would, if needed, indicate the necessity for a specialist examination.

Key words:
early diagnosis; mouth diseases; oral cancer; oral medicine; squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck