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The NYU College of Dentistry (NYUCD) and the New York State Dental Foundation (NYSDF) have partnered to develop a web-based video continuing education (CE), two-credit course -- part of its "Practicing for Life ℠" initiative -- to assist dentists in identifying and managing cancer of the oral cavity as well as precancerous conditions. The course, "Detecting and Managing Oral Precancer and Cancer," is presented by NYUCD's Dr. Ross Kerr, associate professor of oral and maxillofacial pathology, radiology and medicine, and Dr. Brian L. Schmidt, professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery and director of the Bluestone Center for Clinical Research. It is available on the foundation's website, www.nysdflearning.org. The course highlights the following topics: the current epidemiology of oral cancer (including information related to HPV+ oropharyngeal cancers); the clinical features that are suggestive of oral cancer and potentially malignant oral lesions; the indications for emerging adjunctive diagnostic techniques (including imaging, tissue autofluorescence, toluidine blue staining, cytopathologic techniques, and HPV testing); and an update on the management of patients diagnosed with epithelial dysplasia and oral cancer. "At the completion of the course, oral and maxillofacial surgeons will have increased knowledge regarding oral cancer and potentially malignant oral lesions, and will be able to effectively manage the patients referred to them by general dentists," said Drs. Kerr and Schmidt. "Earlier diagnosis of oral cancer will lead to significantly improved outcome for patients."
