I have to weigh in here, though I am sure that Jerry will also, and he is, of course, more informed than I.

First, the device to which JT2 refers is surely the Velscope, which Jerry has purchased for his own practice. Yes, it would be wonderful if every dentist had one!!

Secondly, and more important, from my own point of view, is that just DOING a "cancer screening" will do little good if the dentist in question is not fully educated about what he is seeing. As one whose oral cancer was overlooked and mis-diagnosed for over 8 months, I can attest that some dentists (mine, at least) do not suspect cancer quickly enough.

What could have been done differently for me? 1. If I had been more aware myself, I would have insisted on a return visit the first time we noticed a tender spot, and a biopsy if it didn't get better in that time. It would have meant that my surgery would have been MUCH less destructive.

2. If my dentist had in place a policy to have patients who have had an area treated return for a quick look to be sure that it did, indeed, improve, then we would have biopsied the area at that time, not allowing my lesion to spread in my mouth.

3.....or the second time....

4. ....or the third time (well, the third time, after he had cauterized my malignant lesion for the second time...eek!) he showed that he did not know what oral cancer in this location looked like, because it was classic, and obviously spreading, and very clear to the naked eye....and he still called it ANUG (formerly called "trench mouth.")

My point: The public MUST be made aware of the possibilities of oral cancer, and the dental profession MUST be certain that their practioners are competent in this area. I do not know how to be sure that your own dentist is competent. Mine was not, as I unfortunately discovered, yet how could I have known? I don't know. Perhaps some certificate that verifies that they are a certified cancer screening office, but they should already have one of those. It is called a DDS degree on the wall!!

Maybe we should work toward a separate course in cancer screening that would give refresher information to the dentists....and their hygienists, since much of the actual hands-on work is done by them.....and then they would have some concrete evidence of specialized, up-to-date training in the field of oral cancer screening.