JCDA - Canadian Dental Association

Mobile oral Cancer screening
––– News & Updates –––
The B.C. Cancer Agency is launching a new mobile screening
program in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) in an
effort to reach out to a community most at-risk for oral
cancer.
Dr. Catherine Poh, outreach program leader of the B.C.
Cancer Agency’s Oral Cancer Prevention Program, explains:
“One in 10,000 British Columbians is diagnosed with oral
cancer annually, but the incidence rate is alarmingly higher
for residents of the DTES, where 1 in 150 suffers from oral
cancer.”
Many residents in the DTES are at increased risk for oral
cancer as a result of heavy tobacco and alcohol consumption
(established risk factors for this disease), compromised im-
mune function, poor nutrition and oral hygiene, and limited access to medical and dental care.
“We’re taking a proactive approach and screening for oral cancer in populations of people more likely to get
this cancer,” notes Mr. George Abbott, B.C. minister of health.
Patients who take part in the mobile screening clinics will receive a conventional head and neck and intraoral
exam, followed by an examination with a hand-held blue light device that helps detect precancerous and
cancerous lesions that may not be visible to the naked eye.
“We learned that a majority of residents are not used to travelling far from the area where they reside, even
if it’s a short distance,” says Dr. Poh. “It was clear that we needed to create a comfortable and safe environment
for them to come to get screened. The mobile screening clinic is an important addition to the community, providing
access to oral cancer screening to those who do not visit the dental clinic,” she concludes. a
DIAC Future of
Dentistry Survey
Members of the B.C. Cancer Agency at an
oral cancer screening clinic in Vancouver’s
Downtown Eastside.
The Dental Industry Association of Canada (DIAC) announced
preliminary results of the 12th annual Future
of Dentistry survey, along with the names of the winning
dentists who completed the survey.
Among the noteworthy survey results, 12.5% of dentists spent over 250 chairside days in their practice
over the past year, a significant increase from the 5.7% indicated on the 2007 survey. These figures contrast
with a consistent 40% of respondents spending 150 to 199 days chairside in each of the past 2 years.
The survey also found relatively constant responses regarding the average number of patients treated per
day over the past 2 surveys. More than three-quarters of dentists (76.2%) treated less than 15 patients per
day and approximately 20% treated 15 or more in 2007 and 2008. Overall, dentists treated 12.7 patients in an
average day.
Over 1,000 practising Canadian dentists responded to this year’s survey and there was good proportional
distribution across all regions of the country. To reward dentists who complete the survey, DIAC randomly
selects 11 Canadian practitioners to win travel vouchers.
Dr. Natalie Brothers of Bedford, Nova Scotia, is this year’s grand prize winner of a $1,000 travel voucher. The
10 consolation prize winners will receive $100 travel vouchers. The 10 dentists are: Dr. Caroline Campbell of
Drummondville, Quebec; Dr. Monica Malhotra of Mississauga, Ontario; Dr. Sylvain Drapeau of Campbellton,
New Brunswick; Dr. Felicity Hardwick of Nanaimo, B.C.; Dr. Richard Bell of Duncan, B.C., Dr. Arthi Kumar
of Windsor, Ontario; Dr. Jacques Carrier of Orleans, Ontario; Dr. Adrian F. Power of Conception Bay South,
Newfoundland; Dr. John Gourley of Bible Hill, Nova Scotia; and Dr. Kevin Hamm of Edmonton.
Conducted by Eric P. Jones and Associates with the cooperation of JCDA, the survey is designed to help
DIAC member companies tailor their product and service offerings to meet the needs of Canada’s dentist
population. a
JCDA • www.cda-adc.ca/jcda • September 2008, Vol. 74, No. 7 • 583