today IDEM Singapore 2014 05 April

science & practice08 IDEM Singapore 2014—5 April nAsubtypeofheadandneckcancer, oralcancerisoneofthefewcancer types to be exponentially on the rise. In a presentation to be held this afternoon as part of IDEM’s scientific programme, US dentist Dr Barry Freydberg will discuss the importance of early detection. today international had the oppor- tunity to speak to him beforehand about oral cancer and what needs tobedonebythedentalprofession to improve patient survival. todayinternational: Dr Freyd- berg, is the rise of oral cancer casesaworldwidetrendorisit limited to certain regions? Dr Barry Freydberg: I have to assume it is a worldwide trend. In North America alone, the num- ber of people who have devel- oped oral cancer increased from 37,000 in 2009 to 46,000 last year. This development is due to the fact that the demographics for this type of cancer have changed significantly. Oral cancer used to affect mainly middle-aged man who smoked regularly or con- sumed too much alcohol. Now, it is increasingly diagnosed in younger people and particularly women. What are the reasons for this shift in demographics? While cases that appear to have been caused by smoking seem to have gone down through measures like anti-smoking leg- islation, more patients now seem to be developing the condition because of the human papillo- mavirus, a sexually transmitted infection that can lead to oral cancer.Oneofthereasonsforthis is probably unprotected sexual activity among people who are 18 years and older. While we have seen many oral cancers in 60-year-olds, we are now looking more carefully at people well be- fore they have reached that age. Has the role of dental pro- fessionals in oral cancer detec- tion changed in recent years? Dentists should absolutely be the ones who are looking for oral cancer, as we are the ones who know the oral tissue best, along with ear, nose and throat physi- cians. By being familiar with the tissue and knowing what does not looknormal,weshouldbetheones screeningitonaregularbasis,just asweshouldbescreeningpatients for blood pressure or things like sleep apnoea. Even the American Medical Association has agreed to that position in a recent article. We also see the patients more regularly than other members of the medical profession do, as they often come in for preventative vis- itsinsteadofvisitingusonlywhen they have a health problem. Dentists still appear to over- lookearlysignsofthecondition however. What makes these lesions so difficult to detect? Oralcancerstartswhenchanges in the tissue underneath the mu- cosa occur. Lesions become can- cerous once they break through the basement membrane of the tissue.Theproblemisthatallthis happens in a part of the mouth where one cannot see it just by a doing a visual exam. The ideal time to detect these lesions would be when they are premalignant but at this stage “Oralcancerclassesarenotverysexyunfortunately” An interview with Dr Barry Freydberg,USA 8 page 10 22 – 24 August 2014 Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Call for Abstracts: Deadline: 30 April 2014 Early-bird Registration: Deadline: 31 May 2014 www.hkideas.org HKIDEASHong Kong International Dental Expo And Symposium20142014201420142014201420142014 Organizer AD 5 Dr Barry Freydberg TDI0714_08-10_Freydberg 31.03.14 13:53 Seite 1