Raising awareness of mouth cancer
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 11th October 2021
This November, it will be Mouth Cancer Awareness Month. In the UK, there are over 8300 new cases of mouth cancer each year, with over 2700 of those cases being fatal.[i] Many patients may not be aware of the signs of mouth cancer, or even that everyday habits can increase the risk. Therefore, dentists and their teams play a large role in early detection and patient education regarding mouth cancer, which could, if caught early enough, save someone’s life. However, the disease can have devastating effects on not just a patient physically, but also psychologically. The debilitating side-effects of treatment can also trigger depression and low self-esteem.
There may be many people who struggle to prioritise their oral health; this could be due to a busy life schedule or a lack of knowledge regarding the warning signs of diseases. However, the five-year survival rate for mouth cancer has hardly improved in the last few decades, due to late detection.[ii] Therefore, educating your patients on what to be aware of, as well as the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene and regular check-ups, is crucial for their physical, mental, and oral health.
The importance of awareness
There are many ways that your practice can raise awareness of mouth cancer, many of which will increase other aspects of a patient’s wellbeing. Firstly, encouraging regular check-ups ensures that any abnormalities, including signs of mouth cancer, will be detected sooner. As such, frequent dental or hygiene visits and their advantages should always be highlighted.
Patients should also be made aware of the signs of mouth cancer, which can be spotted by simply self-checking regularly, in-between routine appointments. Providing visual aids throughout the waiting room can be beneficial, whether that be posters or leaflets. By informing patients on the signs of mouth cancer, you are providing them with valuable knowledge; any unusual lumps or swellings in and around the mouth, lingering hoarseness, and red or white patches in the mouth can immediately be identified, and further steps for treatment can be taken.
The most recognisable habits that increase the risk of mouth cancer are the consumption of alcohol and smoking. As you are aware, due to their carcinogenic nature, these habits increase the risk of any cancer forming, as well as having adverse effects specifically on the mouth. In fact, smokers are thought to be six times more likely to develop cancers in the head or neck. Smoking could also encourage the onset of diseases such as periodontitis, which also has links to the development of mouth cancer.[iii]
Awareness and education are important. By helping patients harness knowledge of how they can recognise irregularities within their body, their likelihood of survival from diseases like mouth cancer is much higher.
Why good oral hygiene matters
A case-control study[iv] involving 100 patients was carried out to determine whether poor oral hygiene was significant in the development of head and neck cancer. Of those participants who had squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract, most had poor oral hygiene and did not visit the dentist frequently. The rest of the participants, who had no known tumorous diseases, showed a lower level of tooth decay and tartar. The study concluded that there may be a link between head and neck cancer and poor oral hygiene/fewer dental visits.
This study exemplifies the importance of good oral health, and how continuing to encourage your patients to have their mouths checked regularly, as well as practising good oral hygiene at home, reduces their chances of developing mouth cancer (and other various ailments).
Oral health after treatment
Patients who have advanced damage caused by oral disease, such gingival recession, may need extra motivation to make the change their oral health requires. Offering the option of restorative treatment means patients no longer have to live with debilitating dental conditions. For those that wish to undergo treatment but have complex needs, Ten Dental+Facial is an award-winning clinic that offers intricate restorative treatments. By referring your patients to them, you are ensuring that they receive high-quality care and consideration.
Having good oral health hygiene is beneficial for maintaining a beautiful and happy smile. Raising awareness of the dangers of mouth cancer and helping your patients to reduce the risks could also save a life.
DR NIKHIL SISODIA
Implant Surgeon
After graduating from Bristol University in 1995 and spending a year as a Senior House Officer in Restorative Dentistry and several years in general practice in London, Nik went into partnership with Martin and together they created Ten Dental.
For Nik, the single most valuable tool in clinical diagnosis is the simple act of listening to the patient. His approach to treatment is based on this philosophy and, with this ethos in mind, he works collaboratively with his patients to create a treatment plan which best fits their individual needs. Whether a case is simple or more complex, for Nik the most rewarding aspect of his work is enabling people to regain their health, confidence and smile.
Nik’s special interest in dental implants has led him to become a lecturer and mentor for some leading dental implant companies. He is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantology, a Member of the International Team for Implantology and a Member of the Association of Dental Implantology. A member of the British Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry and a past President of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Nik lectures nationally and internationally on all aspects of implant and restorative dentistry.
You can visit Nik’s personal blog here.
Alongside his own implant practice, Nik is a mentor for the Association of Dental Implantology, a study club director for the International Team in Implantology and teaches on the Implant Restoration Course. He is also a key opinion leader for Dentsply Implants, assisting them in testing the viability and efficacy of their new products.
For more information visit www.tendental.com, email referrals@tendental.com or call on 020 8675 1798
[i] Mouth Cancer Foundation, awareness and support. August 2021. https://www.mouthcancerfoundation.org/mouth-cancer-facts-and-figures/
[ii] Mouth Cancer Foundation, awareness and support. August 2021. https://www.mouthcancerfoundation.org/mouth-cancer-facts-and-figures/)
[iii] Borojevic T. Smoking and periodontal disease. Materia socio-medica. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3633395/
[iv] Maier H, Zöller J, Herrmann A, Kreiss M, Heller WD. Dental status and oral hygiene in patients with head and neck cancer. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1993. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/019459989310800606?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed
