Oral cancer

The rising prevalence of oral potentially malignant disorders

The increasing incidence of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) requires vigilance on the part of dental practitioners in the identification of at-risk mucosal lesions and patients.1 OPMDs are defined as oral mucosal abnormalities that are associated with a statistically increased risk of developing oral cancer.2 The World Health Organization anticipates an increase in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) associated with increased … Read more

Dalhousie Faculty of Dentistry Conducting Clinical Trials for Oral Cancer Prevention

Researchers from Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Dentistry are launching clinical trials to determine whether metformin, a drug often used to treat type 2 diabetes, could effectively prevent oral cancer. The trial will take place over three years with oral leukoplakia and erythroplakia patients. Dr. Leigha Rock, director of Dal’s School of Dental Hygiene, and her team … Read more

University of Surrey Develops a Non-invasive Diagnostic Test for Oral Cancer

Researchers from the University of Surrey have developed a non-invasive diagnostic test for oral cancer called PANDORA. The test was shown to be over 92% accurate at finding patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and 80% accurate at finding patients with pre-cancer or oral epithelial dysplasia (OED), explained the University. The study looked at … Read more

Oral Cancer: Screening and Early Discovery

oral cancer

A vast amount of my career has been spent on defining our powerful role as dental hygienists in the earlier discovery of an abnormal lesion through effective visual and tactile examination of the structures of the head, neck and oral cavity. Frankly, the omission of a thorough and effective extraoral/intraoral examination can cost a life. … Read more

Time to Re-evaluate the Role of Dentists in Preventing Head and Neck Cancers

Head and Neck Cancers

Oral and pharyngeal cancer, also known as head and neck cancer, poses a significant (if somewhat underappreciated) global public health issue, with over 50,000 North Americans diagnosed each year.1 The 2019 Canadian Cancer Statistics report indicated that 5,300 Canadians were diagnosed with oral cancer (3,700 men and 1,600 women), of which 1,480 died (1,050 men … Read more

Oral Cancer as a Result of Betel Quid Use: An Interventional Analysis of Betel Quid Prevention and Cessation in Papua New Guinea Adolescents and the Role of Dentists as Global Citizens

Red-stained smile in adolescent from daily use of BQ. Photo courtesy of Kathleen Prior.

Ared-stained smile, often observed in Asia-Pacific populations, is the hallmark of betel quid (BQ), a carcinogenic seed chewed by an estimated 600 million people globally (Ping-Ho et al., 2017). This practice is deeply rooted in Asia-Pacific culture; however, BQ is widely recognized to cause multisystem adverse health effects and oral cancer (Chu, 2001; Moe et … Read more

Oral Cancer and the Race Against Time: Use of Psoriasin (S100A7) as a Predictive Marker to Enhance Assessment of Cancer Risk in Oral Lesions

Introduction Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a potentially debilitating and deadly disease, particularly when diagnosed at an advanced stage.1 Early detection drastically improves prognostic outcomes, making diagnosis a race against time.2 Most cases of OSCC begin as a precursor lesion or condition, classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an “oral potentially malignant … Read more

Cancer Risk from Oral Precancerous Lesions Higher in Non-Smokers

Precancerous lesions in the mouths of non-smokers are more likely to progress to cancer than those in smokers, new research from the University of British Columbia and BC Cancer has found. Although tobacco use is still one of the strongest risk factors associated with mouth cancers, UBC dentistry PhD candidate Leigha Rock found that oral … Read more

CDHA Urges Hygienists to Remind Patients of Oral Cancer Screening

World Cancer Day (February 4) is a perfect time for dental hygienists across Canada to remind the public of the importance of regular oral cancer screenings, not only during dental appointments, but also now at home. The Canadian Cancer Society projected in 2017 that 4,700 Canadians would be diagnosed with oral cavity cancer, and that … Read more

Researchers Identify Aggressive Genes in Oral Cancer

Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have recently discovered a way to predict the aggressiveness of oral cancer tumors in mice which is an important step towards doing the same with cancer tumors in humans to guide treatment. “All patients with advanced head and neck cancer get similar treatments,” according … Read more

What you talkin’ ’bout Willis?!

Fluorescence mainly an adjunct for occlusal caries detection By Kathy Kincade, Editor in Chief DrBicuspid – April 2, 2012 — While fluorescence-based caries detection devices have been shown to offer clinical decision-making support, visual inspection should continue to be the primary detection method for occlusal caries, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Dental Association.  Visual … Read more

Oral Cancer Foundation Sponsors 13th Annual Oral Cancer Awareness Month

From Cosmetic Dentists News Did you know that the fastest growing segment of the oral cancer community is young, healthy non-smokers? It’s shocking but true. Exposure to the HPV-16 virus, the most common sexually transmitted infection, is now the leading cause of oral cancers in the U.S. There is little that can be done to … Read more

There is a god; we made the New York Times Sunday Review

IT’S become commonplace to criticize the “Occupy” movement for failing to offer an alternative vision. But the thousands of activists in the streets of New York and London aren’t the only ones lacking perspective: economists, to whom we might expect to turn for such vision, have long since given up thinking in terms of economic … Read more

Transmission of Nonviral Sexually Transmitted Infections and Oral Sex

From Marrty Jablow – Dental News and Technology This is important for dentists to understand as there is a correlation between HPV and oral pharyngeal cancers. More research is need to determine if there are other STD’s that may contribute to oral cancer. Don’t be afraid to broach the subject with your patients. MJ Ballini, … Read more

Early HPV Vaccination Reduces Risk for Cervical Cancer

Oral cancer is on the rise. Close to 37,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year. It will cause over 8,000 deaths, killing roughly 1 person per hour, 24 hours per day. Of those 36,000 newly diagnosed individuals,only slightly more than half will be alive in 5 years. The reason; think … Read more

Multimillion-dollar study on early-stage oral cancer underway

And when they win the cup, sob, talk amongst yourselves, I’m farklempt….. FROM DENTAL TRIBUNE – June 3, 2011 VANCOUVER,BC,Canada: Researchers from the University of British Columbia‘s (UBC) Faculties of Medicine, Science and Dentistry are leading a US$4.7 million pan-Canadian clinical trial aimed at improving outcomes for patients undergoing surgery for oral squamous cell cancers. … Read more

Study aims to improve oral cancer surgery outcomes – Canucks RULE!

From Dr. Bicuspid – May 26, 2011 The Terry Fox Research Institute (TFRI) in Vancouver has launched a $4.7 million Pan-Canadian clinical trial aimed at improving outcomes for patients undergoing surgery for oral squamous cell cancers — the Canadian Optically Guided Approach for Oral Lesions Surgical (COOLS) trial. Image via Wikipedia Read more Related articles Study … Read more

Study provides treatment strategies for tongue cancer

By Dr. Bicuspid Staff  May 24, 2011 — A retrospective study in Head and Neck Oncology (May 21, 2011) provides new treatment strategies for primary tumor disease and tumor recurrence in patients with tongue cancer. Read more Related articles What Does Tongue Cancer Look Like? (brighthub.com) Study finds oral tongue cancer increasing in young, white females (blogohj.oralhealthjournal.com) Tongue … Read more