Below is an outline of a research paper that highlights and discusses the various roles played by dental professionals in the early detection and consequent treatment of oral cancer and management of side effects of the treatment.
I. The introduction highlights the predisposing factors to oral cancers as well the importance of the dental profession in detecting and treating oral cancer.
II. The role of the dental profession in detecting and treating oral cancer: Discusses in detail what the dental professionals do in order to detect and treat oral cancer.
III. Detecting oral cancer: This part of the research paper discusses the procedures and tests the dental professionals perform in order to detect oral cancer in their clients
IV. Treatment of oral cancer: This part discusses the treatment regimes that dental professionals put their patients on and the expected side effects of these treatment regimes.
V. Management of side effects: This part discusses how dental professionals help their clients manage the aforesaid side effects.
VI. Conclusion: This part concludes the research paper by underscoring the importance of the dental profession in the fight against oral cancer.
Oral cancer, like the name suggests, is the uncontrollable growth of cells in the mouth cavity. These cells invade surrounding tissues destroying them. It manifests itself in the form of a lesion or a growth that does not wane with time. Oral cancer is a general name that includes cancers of the tongue, lips, the hard and the soft palate, base of the mouth, the pharyngeal and the sinuses. Oral cancer can be terminal if it is not detected and treated early. Men are more predisposed at twice the risk when compared to women.
The risk is even greater in men over fifty years of age. The predisposing factors include excessive alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, exposure to the sun for longer hours at a tender age, heredity and the use of tobacco products that do not produce smoke. (American Dental Association, 2011) Early detection and treatment are vital in the treatment of oral cancer. Dental professionals play a pivotal role in the early diagnosis and consequent treatment of oral cancer.
During routine examinations, dental professionals should be able to advise their clients on any signs and symptoms. This among the many roles dental professionals play in the early detection and consequent treatment of oral cancer. There are many other roles that the dental professionals play towards the detection and treatment of oral cancer. In this paper, I will highlight and discuss the various roles played by dental professionals in the early detection and consequent treatment of oral cancer and management of side effects of the treatment. (American Dental Association, 2011)
The role of the dental profession in detecting and treating oral cancer
As stated earlier, cancer, oral or otherwise can be fatal if not detected and treated early. More precisely, early detection is the key to effective treatment of oral cancer. Early detection ensures that the disease is treated when it is still localized. Statistics have it that 83% of those diagnosed early live past the 5-year survival rate. This is compared to a mere 32% for those patients whose cancer is diagnosed late thereby having progressed to other tissues. (American Dental Association, 2011)The effectiveness of early detection and treatment in the management of oral cancer puts the dental profession at the fore front in detecting and treating oral cancer.
The dental profession organizes awareness campaigns to popularize the need for regular oral exams by the dental professionals. In doing this, they educate the community on the benefits of getting regular checks. This contributes to an increased tally in the number of people who visit the dental professionals for oral checks. This increases the chances of early detection for many patients at the same time increasing the number of annual screenings done. The dental profession plays a crucial role in demystifying the belief that one only goes to a dental professional when they need a tooth filled or for an oral cleaning.
This has been achieved gradually by the members of the dental profession through the provision of brochures that the clients can read while in the waiting room. These brochures offer information about signs and symptoms and the risk factors of the disease. This helps the patients appreciate the need for opportunistic oral screenings on a yearly basis. The availability of information helps change attitudes and beliefs about visits to a dental professional. (American Dental Association, 2001)
The dental professional is not only involved during the early detection and consequent treatment of oral cancer but also in the prevention of oral cancer.
The members of the profession educate their clients on the factors that predispose them to oral cancer. As a result of this, the clients are able to take better care of themselves. When patients are informed, they are aware of what to look out for if they suspect oral cancer. This goes a long way in improving early detection as the patients are informed on the abnormalities and pre-cancerous changes to look out for. Members of the dental profession have a role to carry out a proficient oral cancer exam.
As part of this role, dental professionals are required to select the appropriate tools required for oral cancer screening. They are also required to think about the use diagnostic adjuncts to assist with the screening in order to detect oral cancers early during their prognosis. It is the role of the dental professional to identify the physicians responsible for the early diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma. Experience is that most physicians are not adequately trained for such time intensive screening. Other physicians do not have the time or interest in carrying out the time intensive and sensitive examination of the tissues in the oral cavity.
In order to impede any more damage or even prevent the forming of cancerous cells, the dental professionals discuss the various methods that influence behavior change in their patients. The dental professionals also describe the subpopulations that are at an elevated risk for oral cancer and any disparities that may occur between members of different races as regards oral cancer. (American Dental Association, 2001)
Detecting oral cancer
In order to detect oral cancer, dental professionals carry out a number of procedures. Dental professionals question their patients about the use of tobacco and its products during the first interview and evaluation. Once they identify individuals who are at increased risk of catching oral cancer, they perform routine examinations in order to identify any suspicious lesions. Thorough assessment of the buccal, labial and pharyngeal mucosa, lips, gingival, the hard and soft palates, the floor of the mouth and the lateral borders of the tongue is done, in addition to the extraoral evaluation.
Dental professionals look for changes in color and/or texture of the tissues, ulcerations, masses, bleeding, lymphadenopathy and any lesions. (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, 2011) Any abnormal tissues are further reevaluated through tests such as biopsies. The use of methods like punch biopsy, scalpel biopsy, needle aspiration biopsy or brush biopsy is part of the cytological evaluation dental professionals carry out so as diagnose suspicious lesions for oral cancer. Once a definitive diagnosis has been arrived at, proper documentation is instituted.
Actually, there is documentation in the evaluation process. The documentation describes the condition of the assessed tissues. Documentation is essential for follow up during the subsequent evaluations. After the dental professionals arrive at a definitive diagnosis for oral cancer, they prepare the patient for treatment.
Treatment of oral cancer
As highlighted earlier, detection is vital for the treatment of oral cancer. Oral cancer, just like the other cancers, is treated in a similar way. Surgeries can be performed to remove any cancerous cells or growths. Dental professionals can perform these operations if they are adequately trained for them. Otherwise, they can refer patients to other primary care providers for the surgeries. After the surgeries, radiation therapy coupled with chemotherapy is instituted to destroy any residual cancer cells.
Chemotherapy entails the use of medication in treating cancer. Before the treatment, dental professionals should be diligent to inform their patients of the side effects of the treatment. This is because as the drugs kill the cancer cells, they also harm the normal cells in the mouth. Thos may result to problems with one’s gums and teeth, the lining of the mouth and the salivary glands.
Management of side effects
As stated above, chemotherapy, which is part of treatment for oral cancer, has adverse side effects on the patients. It is the dental professional’s responsibility to help his/her patients manage the side effects so that their lives are not as uncomfortable. The dental professional advises the patient on the diet modifications that need to be made. He can refer the patient to a dietician or a nutritionist if he is not adequately trained for that. The dental professional may also prescribe other drugs that ease the side effects.
Conclusion
Dental health and hygiene is hugely important. It is imperative that we visit a dental professional on a regular basis in order to get screened for any abnormalities. It is also noteworthy that we get informed on the signs and symptoms of oral cancer so that we can aid the dental professionals in early detection when treatment is effective.
American Dental Association, (2001). Combating Oral Cancer: The Dentist's Role in
Preventing, Detecting a Deadly Disease, Journal of American Dental Association.
Chicago. ADA Publishers.
American Dental Association, (2011). Oral Cancer. Journal of American Dental Association.
Chicago. ADA Publishers.
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, (2011). Detecting Oral Cancer: A Guide
for Health Care Professionals. Bethesda. National institute of health
