Dental attendance of oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients in a public hospital in Western Australia

摘要: Background:  Dentists have recently seen the introduction of devices which aim to facilitate early oral cancer detection, sparking interest in opportunistic screening. However, concerns been raised about lack regular dental attendance amongst high risk individuals. The purpose this study was obtain information pertaining and oropharyngeal patients. Methods:  All records patients referred Oral Medicine Clinic at Health Centre Western Australia, between January 2005 December 2009, from one major teaching hospital were examined. Information extracted included age, gender, smoking status, referral date, tumour type, site, disease stage (TNM classification), on attendance. Outcomes measured time (months) since patient’s last visit concerning regularity attendance. Results:  No association found smoking, or age diagnosis. Most had not visited a dentist preceding 12 months. mean date 5.6 years prior. Conclusions:  More should be done Australia encourage attend undergo annual soft tissue examination.