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WVU Dental clinic focuses on oral cancer awareness and services for patients

Board-certified, expert faculty provide unique services for patients

As Oral Cancer Awareness month wraps up, it is an opportune time for West Virginia University School of Dentistry and WVU Dental to emphasize the importance of screenings that could lead to early detection and treatment of cancerous lesions or precancers.  

To best serve patients, the Department of Diagnostic Sciences takes the lead on oral cancer education, guiding dental and dental hygiene students through oral cancer screenings and introducing them to the intricacies of detecting problems early.  

Students learn from a department of board-certified specialists, who in some cases may be the only provider in the state with their specialty certification or one of very few nationwide.  Those faculty dentists and a team of assistants prepare students to recognize possible cases of oral cancer and understand biopsies and referral processes.  

The department provides a diverse and rare opportunity for students at WVU’s dental school to study oral pathology and radiology utilizing unique technology for the most thorough approaches to care.    

When it comes to awareness, it is common for faculty and students to embrace interprofessional learning by teaming up with other established programs and health care professionals to reach as many patients as possible, and as soon as possible, with the facts about oral cancer, screenings and resources for treatment and care.  

Most recently, November 4, 2022, dentistry joined the inaugural WV Pink and Pearl Campaign. Students and faculty added an oral cancer awareness element to the breast and lung cancer screening event. Madison ShawThe Department of Dental Hygiene faculty, including Ms. Elizabeth Puette, produces a large number of volunteer future hygienists for oral cancer awareness events and they often incorporate discussions about risk factors, screening, detecting and more at a patient’s first visit. Madison Shaw, a junior dental hygiene student participated recently.  "Being a part of the Pink and Pearl campaign was a great opportunity to get involved with my community and raise awareness of not only oral cancer, but also breast and lung cancer. I had the privilege to volunteer alongside other health professionals, which was an awesome learning experience," Shaw said.

Click to learn about risk factors, screening, detecting and diagnosing oral cancer.

WVU Dental operates the clinics where WVU School of Dentistry students, faculty and residents provide oral healthcare. The Department of Diagnostic Sciences oral and maxillofacial pathologist and radiologist, along with an oral medicine expert, work toward better patient outcomes in various ways.   

They provide clinical, biopsy (laboratory) and imaging services at a patient’s request or following a referral from other clinicians. Call 304-293-9253. Referral forms can be emailed to SODreferrals@hsc.wvu.edu.  

WVU Dental diagnostic sciences can expeditiously offer cone beam CT scans, biopsies, radiographs, panoramic images and when necessary, non-surgical management of ulcerative conditions, salivary gland disorders and oral complications secondary to cancer treatments.  

Below is a list of some of the oral cancer awareness initiatives involving WVU School of Dentistry and WVU Dental.  

October 2017 
WVU School of Dentistry received accreditation to implement a certified, multi-faceted program to stop tobacco use and reduce instances of oral cancer.  

March 2018 
WVU Medicine Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and the School of Dentistry hosted a free oral cancer screening.  

July 2019 
WVU School of Dentistry began expanding its Diagnostic Sciences team of specialists.  It currently includes Diagnostic Sciences chair Dr. Steven Whitaker, Dr. Hiba Qari and Dr. Jerry Bouquot, all oral and maxillofacial pathologists.  Dr. Juan Bugueno is an oral medicine expert. Dr. Lakshmi Garladinne is an oral and maxillofacial radiologist.  

October 2019 
The Department of Diagnostic Sciences volunteered to raise oral cancer awareness at the Vandalia-Con community health fair.  

February 2020 
The dental school joined in on a research project focusing on a new method to screen for oral cancer.  

December 2021 
An oral and maxillofacial radiologist, Dr. Lakshmi Garladinne, joined WVU School of Dentistry. She’s the only board certified oral and maxillofacial radiologist in WV and one of very few nationwide.  

June 2021 
A “Catch it Early” free oral cancer screening was offered in coordination with the WVU Oral Health Program and Mountains of Hope Cancer Coalition.  

July 2021 
WVU Medicine and WVU School of Dentistry collaborated to allow oral cancer patients to receive dental implants at the time of cancer surgery through an innovative approach called the Alberta Reconstructive Technique.   

September 2021 
More than 150 oral cancer screenings were provided by dental school students and providers.

November 2021 
Dental school students were introduced to oral biopsies and learned the life-saving potential biopsies as part of the Bianco Lectureship Series.  

January 2022  
Dentistry joined with WVU Cancer Institute creating a referral system to connect patients with medical providers familiar with head, neck and throat cancer and dental specialists who can address the side effects that sometimes develop due to cancer and cancer treatment.  

November 2022  
Dental hygiene senior, Jodi Drumheller was the site manager for an oral cancer screening event at the Immaculate Conception Health Fair in Clarksburg.