Project REACH at WVU provides oral cancer screenings at rural health fair
There is a well-documented shortage of oral health professionals across the United States, particularly in rural areas. In West Virginia, students enrolled in the West Virginia University School of Dentistry help combat access to care challenges by participating in outreach opportunities across the state.
To serve the community of Capon Bridge, a small town with less than 500 residents, third-year Doctor of Dental Surgery student Brianna Hodak helped organize a recent Project REACH Education Health Fair. Project REACH – Rural Education Alliance for Community Health – is an initiative of the WVU Institute for Community and Rural Health bringing together health professions students from diverse disciplines to increase awareness about various topics in underserved areas.
“Rural communities face additional challenges in accessing dental care, such as distance, lack of healthcare professionals, time off work, etc.,” Hodak, of Spring Church, Pennsylvania, explained. “Community health fairs are a great way to bring resources directly to underserved areas. I’m passionate about minimizing barriers to dental care and was excited to organize this fair!”
During the event, students and faculty from the school provided free oral cancer screenings and information about self-screening to promote early detection, tobacco cession, diabetes and oral health, and dental sealants to prevent cavities. The event also included free physical examinations, vaccination information, interactive demonstrations, children’s activities and other educational opportunities.
School of Dentistry volunteers at the event included DDS students Hodak, site manager Jason Collett and Casey Washington; Dental Hygiene students Madeline Amoia, Yazna Riddick and Jefferson Umana; Department of Dental Hygiene Assistant Professor Elizabeth Southern Puette, RDH, MSDH, CTTS; Administrative Assistant Carol Whitaker; and Department of Endodontics Associate Professor Dr. Steven Whitaker.
Partnering with Mountains of Hope and the 100 Million Mouths Campaign and Delta Dental Community Care Foundation, the volunteers completed six oral cancer screenings. April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month.
Each screening includes an oral exam, one-on-one counseling and resources about tobacco cessation, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for oropharyngeal cancer prevention, oral cancer prevention, early detection and the importance of screening, a self-screening kit, and WVU Dental resources and necessary referrals. Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialists from the school were available to provide additional information about evidence-based tobacco cessation strategies and individualized counseling, if needed.
All dental surgery and dental hygiene students at WVU participate in the school’s Certified Tobacco Treatment Training Program led by Suann Gaydos.
Oral cancer includes cancers of the mouth and the back of the throat and can develop on the tongue, the tissue lining the mouth and gums, under the tongue, at the base of the tongue and the area of the throat at the back of the mouth.
To help detect oral cancer early, individuals should maintain routine dental visits and share their medical history, including any sexually transmitted diseases, and request an oral cancer exam. Individuals should also perform a monthly oral cancer self-examination and follow up with a professional, if necessary.
Evidence-based prevention strategies to help reduce the likelihood of developing oral cancer include avoiding or limiting alcohol consumption, refraining from tobacco use and getting vaccinated against HPV, which can prevent 90% of cancers caused by HPV, including oral cancers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The American Dental Association recommends that most adults and children get a routine dental cleaning and exam every six months. Regular dental visits help identify potential risks and problems, such as oral cancer, and prevent them from worsening.
WVU Dental providers, including faculty, resident and student dentists, offer comprehensive general dentistry and specialized treatment at two locations in Morgantown, on the WVU Health Sciences Campus and at Suncrest Town Centre. WVU Dental is the clinical practice component of WVU School of Dentistry.
Photo at top: (l-r) Dr. Steven Whitaker, Carol Whitaker, Casey Washington, Brianna Hodak, Madeline Amoia, Jason Collett, Yazna Riddick, Jefferson Umana and Elizabeth Southern Puette
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jw/4/30/24
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WVU School of Dentistry | WVU Dental