"Skin Cancer 101" and "Conducting Oral Cancer Exam"

“Skin Cancer 101 for the Dental Professional”

Contrary to popular belief, a dermatologist may not be the first person to detect skin cancer. Instead, you might play a major role in identifying the early stages of skin cancer. Due to the nature and proximity of clinical examinations conducted by hygienists, we have an opportunity to detect abnormal growths in our patient’s face and neck areas, which are often subjected to skin lesions. During our examinations, we can visually detect any unusual skin growths, especially in the mouth area, which might signal oral cancer as well. We are trained to recognize abnormalities, provide patient education, teach prevention techniques, screen for early detection, and provide prompt treatment. Do you bring these spots to their attention? Have you ever taken a photo with THEIR cell phone so they can watch it? Between two and three million non-melanoma skin cancers and 132,000 melanoma skin…