In order to understand how dentists should act when approaching patients that can present with cancer or pre-cancer of the oral cavity, it is adamant that the professionals familiarize themselves with the current trends of oral cancer and potentially malignant disorders. A study conducted only three years ago pinpointed that squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck has a five-year survival rate of only 40to 60% in fifty years, despite advances in surgical techniques, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and combined therapies. 1 In order to avoid these terrible statistics, a great effort must be made by medical professionals, especially those that constantly examine the oral cavity, also known as: dentists.
