Social background and Objectives

  The number of people suffering from oral cancer in Japan is about 1 to 2% of all cancer. In advanced countries such as the United States, mortality rates tend to decrease as early detection and early treatment of oral cancer are actively performed. In Japan, the number of affected people and the number of deaths are increasing. It is urgently necessary to realize the early detection and treatment of oral cancer for the protection of important lives of all people and for their health and comfortable life.
  If early detection of oral cancer is properly performed by a dentist who is examining the oral cavity of many people, it is expected that not only the decrease in cancer mortality due to early treatment but also improvement of QOL of patients due to minimizing the oral dysfunction.
  This project aims to contribute to the improvement of the early detection rate of oral cancer through continuous education for dentists about early detection of oral cancer and enlightenment on oral cancer for the people.

Past activities and future plans

  Since 2005, dentists of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstructive Surgery of Okayama University Hospital have conducted oral cancer screening and awareness of oral cancer at the events of each dental association branch in Okayama Prefecture.
  Since 2012, in cooperation with the Okayama City Dental Association, Specialty Outpatient Clinic for Oral Cancer of Okayama University Hospital has held the "Oral Cancer Screening Workshop" (two-day course) for dentists.
In addition, we have driven awareness of oral cancer through public lecture.
In the future, we plan to spread these activities to a wider area.