With trepidation I admit I am a dental hygienist.
I have been in clinical practice over 16 years. I diligently screen for oral cancers on all patients. Where I see the problem lying is the dental community and the public needs to be awaree that this problem is greater than any of us would realize.
This site has increased my awareness,has kept me diligent and I have passed the address of this site and Brian Hills initial comments in this Awareness board on to my employer/dentist and collegues.
To bring to light that the problem I see, in recognition and diagnosis, is that half the patients seen in a day can and do exhibit some type of anomoly/abnormality. The dental professional will note it in the chart. Some leasions are brought to the patients awarness, some patients are brought back for biopsy with the oral surgeon.
Just this Thursday I had a patient, a state trooper, that became annoyed that I screened him for oral cancer! He said " all I did was come in to have my teeth cleaned" Surprisingly, many patients have this mentality. However,I do not and will not waver from my duty to screen for oral cancer.
The general public is not aware of the dangers of oral cancer nor of the need for early detection. This also needs to be worked on for us, the dental community, to do our part.
Only then would it be feasible, and seen as responsible, for the dental professional to send each and every patient that exhibits some oral anomaly for biopsy.
Thankyou for allowing me to voice my concerns. My prayers go out to each of you, caretaker and patient alike.
Linda