The role of the dental team in preventing and diagnosing cancer: 2. Oral cancer risk factors.
Oral cancer is among the ten most common cancers world-wide, and is especially seen in disadvantaged older males. Cancer arises as a consequence of DNA mutations causing multiple molecular genetic events in many chromosomes and genes, leading to cell dysregulation. Tobacco and alcohol use are extremely important in oral mutagenesis. Environmental factors such as infective agents and genetic factors are implicated in a minority of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Dental staff can advise on lifestyle changes for the prevention of potentially malignant oral disease and thereby protect their patients, staff, colleagues, families and acquaintances, having the opportunity to make an impact on improving the survival rate and morbidity of oral cancer by detecting both potentially malignant and malignant oral lesions.
Scully
Crispian
C
Eastman Dental Institute for Oral Health Care Sciences, 256 Gray's Inn Road, University College London, London WC1X 8LD, UK.
Newman
Laurence
L
Bagan
Jose Vicente
JV
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001114:Areca / Q000009:adverse effects; D003797:Dental Staff; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless / Q000009:adverse effects