ISSUE NO. 2
EXPERT COMMENTARY
2018
Oral cancer screening should be mandated for dental profession AUTHOR
ORIGINAL STORY
ARTWORK BY
PHOTO BY
LESLEY YOUNG
FOLIO
NATASIA DESIGNS
MELISSA FABRIZIO
A QUICK HEAD-AND-NECK EXAMINATION BY YOUR DENTIST OR DENTAL HYGIENIST CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE BY IDENTIFYING EARLY ORAL CANCERS
From left, Alexandra Sheppard and Seema Ganatra
“ORAL CANCER SCREENING should
the dentist should refer the patient to
practices, partners and vaccinations.
be taking place on patients as part
an oral pathologist or oral surgeon for
“We teach dental hygiene students
of regular dental visits,” said Seema
further evaluation and treatment.
how to conduct screenings for atypical
Ganatra, an oral pathologist at the
and abnormal findings which might
University of Alberta. “Unfortunately,
“Our scope of practice includes
be oral cancer,” said Sheppard,
it’s not clear how often this is being
conducting a head-and-neck exam along
adding that dental hygienists often
done by dentists and dental hygienists.”
the muscle groups and lymph nodes
see patients on a three- to 12-month
under the chin and around the neck, and
interval and the lying-down position of
Ganatra explained a soft-tissue
an intra-oral assessment of the tongue,
the patient with the use of lights and
examination of the head and neck
particularly the lateral borders and
loupes helps with visibility. Individuals
area—an effective way to spot
undersurface, and a visual assessment
with atypical oral findings can then be
precancers or cancerous growths,
of the oropharynx,” said Alexandra
referred to dental specialists including
either visually in the mouth or
Sheppard, assistant director of dental
oral pathologists, oral surgeons and
physically under the skin in the neck
hygiene clinical education at the U of A.
their physician.
dentists and dental hygienists within as
A screening also entails questions
“That’s why it’s a good idea to ask for
little as two minutes. If a lesion or lump
about alcohol and tobacco use, as
a screening at your next dental visit if
is found, and persists after two weeks,
well as asking patients about sexual
it’s not offered,” Sheppard added.
and throat area—can be conducted by
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
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