Volume : 4, Issue : 4, April - 2015

THE ROLE OF DENTISTS IN PREVENTION AND EARLY DETECTION OF ORAL CANCER

Dr. Gowtham Sunkara, Dr Deepthi Padma Eripilla

Abstract :

<p>&lt;p&gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Oral cancer is among the 10 most common cancers worldwide. It has a good prognosis when detected at&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt; &amp;lt;div&amp;gt;an early stage yet half of the patients diagnosed with oral cancer have advanced stage disease, for which prognosis&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt; &amp;lt;div&amp;gt;is poor. Although most oral tumors are preceded by pre&amp;amp;ndash;malignant lesions, the asymptomatic nature of oral cancer,&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt; &amp;lt;div&amp;gt;diagnostic delay, and the possibility of hidden tumors, limit the ease at which oral cancer is detected early. This fact underlines the importance of&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt; &amp;lt;div&amp;gt;a methodical approach in examination of oral mucosa of every patient seeking dental consultation as the reliable method for early detection of&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt; &amp;lt;div&amp;gt;oral carcinoma. Therefore, Dentists have a pivotal role to play in contributing to the prevention and early detection of oral cancer thus helping to&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt; &amp;lt;div&amp;gt;reduce the morbidity and mortality from this terrible disease&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;</p>