oral cancer

Oral Cancer Awareness

Approximately 54,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year, and one will die from it every 24 hours. Oral cancers can develop on your tongue, gums, inside of your lips or cheeks, the floor or roof of your mouth, tonsils, or throat.  

With dental professionals considered the experts in the early detection of oral cavity cancers, this is a good time for all providers to re-calibrate themselves and ensure that they perform thorough head and neck and oral screening exams on all patients. Early detection of oral cancer remains the single most important prognostic factor in improving survival, thus underscoring the dental profession’s significant role in managing these patients.

The ISDS Oral Cancer Task Force has developed tools for our members to bring Oral Cancer Awareness to the forefront of dentistry. The ISDS Oral Cancer Patient Brochure is a wonderful tool for your office. It will help you begin the conversation about awareness and screening. 

  • Oral Cancer Month Special Edition of the Illinois Dental News
  • ISDS Oral Cancer Videos, including "How to Perform an Oral Cancer Screening," "Why Dentists are the Leaders in Detection," and "Why Early Detection is Vital"
  • ADA’s mouthhealthy.org Oral Cancer page
  • Member Spotlight Story: Preventing Oropharyngeal Cancer and the Importance of Vaccinations
  • ISDS "For the Public" Oral Cancer Information Page
  • ISDS Oral Cancer Patient Brochure Order Form
  • ISDS Oral Cancer CE Courses: 
    1. Diagnosis and Management of Oral Cavity Cancers
    2. Management and Reconstruction of the Oral Cancer Patient
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