Oral cancer survival-an overview of Dental Surgeon's role

Oral cancer constitutes an important proportion of overall percentage of cancer. Survival rates of oral cancer is relatively low in comparison to major cancers, although incidence rate being as less as 3 percent of the cancers. Delay in diagnosis, cancer metastases, and presence of secondary tumors are the main reasons for the poor prognosis of oral cancer. Innocuous potentially malignant lesions have higher chances for malignant transformation and early diagnosis of these lesions is necessary for the better survival rates. Patient's overall outcome can be improved through early diagnosis and management of these potentially malignant lesions, as the oral cavity can be easily examined. Currently available clinical diagnostic tools developed for the early detection of oral cancer include toluidine blue dye (TB) (tolonium chloride), Oral brush biopsy, chemiluminescence using Vizilite, salivary diagnostics, and several imaging devices such as Velscope and multispectral optical imaging systems. This paper deals in detail about the various diagnostic aids in detection of oral cancer, thus emphasising dentist's role in combating this dreadful entity.