Top risks for oral cancer and how to reduce the your risk
Dental professionals are perfectly positioned to screen and detect oral cancer for their patients. In years past, many dental teams only performed oral cancer screenings for the patients that presented with a high risk for this disease. These important examinations should not be considered a favor or going above and beyond yet a standard procedure for the health and wellness of each and every patient in the chair at every single visit. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, “… the majority (oral cancer cases) are found as late stage cancers, and this accounts for the very high death rate of about 43% at five years from diagnosis (for all stages and etiologies combined at time of diagnosis), and high treatment-related morbidity in survivors.
In this segment, Dr. Shaun explains the most common risks for oral cancer, some prevention strategies and symptoms that we can all look for at home. This April, our hope is that we can remind more people take a pause and consider their personal risks and get screened for oral cancer. If we all work together we can save lives.
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