3 continuing education hours

Instructional Objectives:

Upon completion of the session, participants will be able to:

  1. Explain the assessment process as it relates to oral lesion detection
  2. List the descriptors for pathologic lesions used in the assessment process
  3. Describe the types of oral cancer lesions
  4. Explain the TNM system of tumor staging and grading
  5. Compare and contrast oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and human papillomavirus as an etiologic agent.
  6. Demonstrate an oral cancer screening 
  7. Discuss the possible conditions included in the differential diagnoses of various types of oral lesions

This course will review the assessment portion of the dental hygiene process of care, specifically in relation to oral pathology and lesion detection. The range of descriptors for lesions and anomalies will be presented with lesion examples for each descriptor. Emphasis will be placed on detecting lesions that are suspicious for oral cancer and differentiation of similar appearing lesions. There will be a discussion about oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma contrasted with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and human papillomavirus’s role. The TNM system of staging and grading will be explained as well as the oral cancer screening process. Cases with the various types of lesions will be presented with a differential diagnosis discussion including audience participation.