Dental Did You Know: Cases of Oral Cancer Worldwide

According to Vigilant Biosciences, there are over 600 000 cases of oral cancer every year worldwide. (Incidentally, they are making an oral rinse test to detect biomarkers of this disease. The independent data is not there yet on how sensitive or specific the test will be over the long term.)

Source: Apex 360 E-Newsletter: Posted June 6th, Read June 9, 2016. 
http://www.dentistryiq.com/articles/apex360/2016/06/early-detection-of-head-and-neck-cancer-gets-a-boost-vigilant-biosciences-launches-first-of-its-kind-oncalert-labs-oramark-test-in-the-united-states.html?cmpid=Enl_APX_June-7-2016&eid=295478886&bid=1425856


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (226) 656-1000

Dental Did You Know: Oral Cancer in Canada

Oral Cancer is now the 13th most common type of cancer in Canada, with an estimated 4100 people diagnosed in 2013.

Source: Wilson C, Schmorgasbord ow la Catherine! (Editorial), Oral Hygiene, Feb 2014, pg 5.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (519) 998-7153

Dental Did You Know: Oral Cancer Facts

• Over 90% of oral cancers are carcinomas
• The most common areas are the tongue, lips and floor of the mouth
• Risk factors included tobacco and regular alcohol consumption
• Early detection greatly increases patient survival and only takes 90 seconds to perform initially

Source: Gardner M,  Evidence-Based Clinical Recommendations Regarding Screening for the Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas, Dispatch, RCDSO, Aug/Sep 2010, Vol 24, No 3, pg 26-27.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know: Oral Cancer Rates in the US

The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimated that there would be 23,100 cases of oral cancer in 2009 with 5,370 deaths from the disease.

Source: Rethman M et al, Evidence-based clinical recommendations regarding screening for oral squamous cell carcinomas, PEAK, RCDSO, August 2010, pg 1-15.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

The British Columbia Oral Cancer Prevention Program Website: Orcanet.ca

This is a fantastic oral cancer website with clinical guidelines for dentists and a nice question and answer section for patients and providers. Check it out!

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know: Oral Cancer Mortality Rate

The rate of mortality from oral cancer has not significantly changed in 50 years, even with our advancement in clinical therapies.

Source: Benjamin S, It's More than an Oral Cancer Exam, It's a Quality of Life Exam!, Oral Health, July 2008, Vol 98, No 7, pg 36-38 & 62.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know: Oral Cancer Survival Rate

Even with today's technology, five year survival for oral cancer is less than 50%.

Source: Benjamin S, It's More than an Oral Cancer Exam, It's a Quality of Life Exam!, Oral Health, July 2008, Vol 98, No 7, pg 36-38 & 62.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know: Avocados and Oral Cancer

A study published in Seminars in Cancer Biology showed that phytochemicals kill some cancer cells and prevent precancerous cells from developing into cancer. The mechanism appears to be programmed cell death.

(Dr. Skariah's Comment: Hmmm... I wonder if other phytochemicals (e.g. flaxseed) have the same effect?)

Source: FYI Research, AGD Impact, December 2007, Vol 35, No 12, pg 20-21.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know: Oral Cancer Rates in Canada

Approximately 3,200 new cases and 1,050 deaths from oral cancer occur each year in Canada. Unfortunately, many cases are diagnosed late and require aggressive treatment. As a result, 50% of oral cancer patients die within 5 years of diagnosis.

Source: Point of Care: What do I need to know about oral cancer screening?, JCDA, November 2007, Vol 73, No 9, pg 797-8.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know: Diagnosis of Oral Cancer

Unfortunately, 83% of oral cancers are diagnosed by non-dental personnel, at a stage where the mortality rate is high. (Just goes to show you how important early detection and diagnosis is.)


Source: Newton A, AGD Impact: The War Against Oral Cancer, Vol 35, No 8, Aug 2007, pg 40-46.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know: Incidence of Oral Cancer

The American Cancer Society has projected that more than 34 000 people in the US will be diagnosed with oral cancer (cancer of the mouth, lip, tongue, salivary glands and oropharynx) in 2007 up 11% from the year before.

Risk factors include: smoking, alcohol, UV radiation, diet, and human papillomaviruses (HPV)

Source: Newton A, AGD Impact: The War Against Oral Cancer, Vol 35, No 8, Aug 2007, pg 40-46.


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Periodontal Disease and Tongue Cancer

Hi everyone,

I saw this breaking story on gum disease and tongue cancer over the newswires. I decided to quote the Globe and Mail: Chronic gum disease linked to risk of tongue cancer

If the risk of losing all your teeth to gum disease isn't incentive enough, researchers have found another preventative reason to brush and floss religiously — tongue cancer.

Researchers at the University of Buffalo and Roswell Park Cancer Institute say they have found a possible link between long-standing periodontitis, or gum disease, and the risk of developing tongue cancer.

The study, published in the May issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology, found the risk of tongue cancer due to chronic periodontal disease increased fivefold with every millimetre of lost alveolar bone — the bone in the jaw that holds teeth in place.

... After adjusting for potential effects of age, smoking status and the number of existing teeth, researchers found that the men with chronic gum disease were 5.2 times (my emphasis) more likely to have tongue cancer with every millimetre of bone loss than those without gum disease.

Yikes! Yet another reason to keep great oral hygiene and regular visits to your dental office.

Take care,


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100