Abstract

CASARIEGO, Z.J.. Participation of dentist in oral cancer control: management in prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. Review. Av Odontoestomatol [online]. 2009, vol.25, n.5, pp.265-285. ISSN 2340-3152.

Cancer is a complex disease, beeing a major cause of morbidity. Mortality is high, with less than 50% of oral cancer patients have no cure. Dentist have a unique opportunity to detect malignant neoplasms while they are asymptomatic and unsuspected. Hence early diagnosis of a lesion, combined with adequated treatment, seems to be the most effective way to improve oral cancer control. Therefore the importance of dentist who share a relevant responsibility in the management of oral cancer, from diagnosis through rehabilitation. The dentist is most often the first clinician consulted for oral complaints and therefore has the responsibility of differentiating bening from precancerous and malignity and the opportunity to early derivation. When diagnosis is comfirmed by experts, the public health programs are critical in emphasizing the need for a previous routine oral examination, in order to promove oral health before oncologic therapy. Treatment of oral cancer often produces certain dysfunctions in speech, mastication, swallowing and dental and mucosa complains, therefore, oral rehabilitation becomes a major consideration to the patient. Optimal oral cancer control calls for a diversity of approaches among many health professionals. The complexities of optimal diagnosis, management and control require a multidisciplinary team.

Keywords : Neoplasms; malignity; unsuspected; optimal control.

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