{"id":27354,"date":"2023-08-24T17:39:28","date_gmt":"2023-08-24T17:39:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mysagedental.com\/the-importance-of-adding-oral-cancer-screenings-to-routine-dental-exams-copy\/"},"modified":"2023-08-24T17:39:28","modified_gmt":"2023-08-24T17:39:28","slug":"raising-awareness-of-oral-cancer-through-patient-communication","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simpleseogroup.co\/sage\/raising-awareness-of-oral-cancer-through-patient-communication\/","title":{"rendered":"Raising Awareness of Oral Cancer Through Patient Communication"},"content":{"rendered":"
Misty Mattingly, RDH, BSDH<\/em><\/section>\n
<\/section>\n
\n

Raising awareness of oral cancer through patient communication<\/h3>\n<\/section>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n

When you\u2019re seeing a patient for a regularly scheduled checkup or cleaning, does your patient understand you\u2019re also looking for signs of oral cancer? It\u2019s important that dental professionals across the country are examining their approach to informing patients about the disease.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Oral cancer rates in the United States have increased significantly over the past decade.\u00a0According to the Oral Cancer Foundation,<\/a>\u00a0around 54,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or oropharyngeal cancer this year. The disease is expected to cause over 9,000 deaths — averaging one death every hour.<\/p>\n

The complexity and sheer prevalence of this issue, however, often go unrecognized by the general public. Because oral cancer spreads quickly and is usually undetectable to the naked eye in its initial stages, patients are generally unaware of the warning signs, or that routine screening for the disease is even an option. To raise further awareness around oral cancer, we must first address how\u00a0we communicate<\/a>\u00a0the severity of the issue with patients.<\/p>\n

Identifying the signs and misconceptions around oral cancer<\/h2>\n

Oral cancer can present itself in many ways. The most common symptoms may include weight loss; persistent sores in the mouth; ear pain; trouble with speaking, chewing, or swallowing; difficulty moving or swelling of the jaw; and numbness of the tongue. Patients experiencing oral abnormalities for two weeks or longer should check with their dentist or medical professional immediately.<\/p>\n

Prolonged tobacco use, heavy alcohol consumption, sun exposure, a family history of cancer, gender, and age are all factors that can increase a patient\u2019s risk of oral cancer.\u00a0Men are twice as likely to be diagnosed with oral cancer<\/a>\u00a0compared to women, and the disease is more commonly found in patients over 40 years old.<\/p>\n

However, it\u2019s important that patients understand oral cancer can happen to anyone, despite the presence of these factors. The U.S. is currently experiencing an uptick of oral cancer diagnoses in young women in their early 30s, making it even more imperative that all patients, regardless of age or gender, fully understand the risks.<\/p>\n

Today, HPV is the leading cause of oropharyngeal cancers. Specifically, the subtype HPV 16 is found in around\u00a070% of newly diagnosed patients. This link between HPV and oral cancer is one that many patients are unaware of, especially younger adults.<\/p>\n

It can take years after being infected with HPV for cancer to develop, and considering that many people with HPV are unaware they have contracted it and do not show any symptoms, it\u2019s even more critical for patients to understand this connection.<\/p>\n

The good news is oral cancer has an\u00a080% to 90%<\/a>\u00a0survival rate when detected at the early stages of development. However, only about\u00a028% of cases<\/a>\u00a0are diagnosed at this stage.<\/p>\n

Oral cancer is often discovered when it has metastasized to another location within the body, such as the lymph nodes in the neck. By the time it is visible to the naked eye, oral cancer can have up to a 50% mortality rate. As we continue to see a spike in oral cancer annually and increased mortality rates, dental professionals must communicate the risks and signs of oral cancer to patients on a consistent basis — even during routine visits.<\/p>\n

Implementing oral cancer screenings into your practice<\/h2>\n

Increasing patient education and overall awareness around oral cancer begins in the dental chair. When looking to standardize routine screenings, private dental practices and dental service organizations should keep the following tips in mind:<\/p>\n