You are viewing information for the Morgantown Campus. At another location? Change your campus.

School of Dentistry uses Academy of General Dentistry Foundation grant to offer oral cancer screenings

Free oral cancer screenings are scheduled September 25

The American Cancer Society estimates the diagnosis of more than 54,000 new cases of oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer nationwide this year, and West Virginia has one of the highest national incidence rates for oral cancer in the nation.

Academy of General Dentistry FoundationAs part of its mission to provide comprehensive oral healthcare and support overall patient wellness, the West Virginia University School of Dentistry, supported by the Academy of General Dentistry Foundation (AGDF), will host “Catch It Early”, a free oral cancer screening and awareness initiative this fall.

“The use of nicotine and tobacco products can be associated with increased risks of mouth and throat cancer, but patients often don’t know about the other risk factors for developing the disease. One of our priorities is to warn patients about how alcohol use, sun exposure and human papilloma virus (HPV) could put them at greater risk for developing oral lesions that can lead to cancer,” said Elizabeth Puette, assistant professor of dental hygiene.

On Saturday, September 25, thanks to a $5,000 grant from the AGD Foundation, the dental school will set up information and screening sites on the downtown and Evansdale campuses from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition to sharing preventive information, students in the Doctor of Dental Surgery program, guided by faculty dentists, will perform free oral cancer screenings.

Add event to your calendar
Directions and Info

When appropriate, patients may be referred to the School of Dentistry Oral Medicine Clinic where a team of experts could complete further examination, including a surgical biopsy, to determine a diagnosis and treatment options. Screening participants who are referred for follow-up care should inquire about patient fees and insurance information when scheduling an appointment.

Students earning a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene will participate in the public awareness campaign. They will have literature available for guests who want to learn how to identify oral cancer symptoms or conduct self-exams at home.

The School of Dentistry is unique in that it is the only dental school to offer a Certified Tobacco Treatment Training Program designed to teach providers across disciplines to use the same evidenced based measures when offering cessation treatment to tobacco and nicotine users.

Through CTTTP, dental and dental hygiene students are provided tobacco cessation information and resources to share with patients. Guests at the screening event will be able to pick up resources and learn more about WVU Dental’s, oral medicine clinic and pathology, radiology and biopsy services.

“We hope to be able to provide oral cancer screenings to as many as 300 people on Saturday September 25th. While oral cancer can be most prevalent in middle aged men and women, a younger population is not exempt from developing oral cancer. We welcome West Virginia residents and WVU community members of all ages to the "Catch It Early" event,” said Puette.

The WV Oral Health Program and Mountains of Hope Cancer Coalition have also partnered with the dental school to help make the screening and awareness event possible.

Those interested in the “Catch It Early” event can visit with dental school students and faculty on the downtown campus near Martin Hall or at the WVU Student Rec Center in space provided near the basketball courts.