Oral & Oropharyngeal Cancer Screening
for Today’s Population

Pricing

Member fee: $169.00 + applicable taxes
Non-member fee: $339.00 + applicable taxes
Student/Graduated Student Member fee: $49.00 + applicable taxes

Course Completion Time:

Approx. 5–6 hours

Note that your access to this course will expire one year from the date of registration; course registration fees are non-refundable and subject to applicable taxes.

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Description

Will this be the year you save a life?

This course is designed to provide dental hygienists with a clearer understanding of the incidence, mortality, and morbidity of oral and oropharyngeal cancers so that they can effectively transfer this knowledge to their clinical practice and clients.

A call to action from the Chief Dental Officer of Canada validates the integral role dental hygienists play in early discovery of these cancers through opportunistic screening, which can significantly reduce the mortality rate. The course reviews typical risk factors along with the concerning link between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and oropharyngeal cancer that today’s dental hygienists need to consider. Communication strategies for educating clients on risk prevention and self-examination are highlighted. A systematic approach to assessment, management, and referral is detailed to assist the dental hygienist in practice. A variety of clinical and educational resources accompany the online course.

Successful completion of this course will ensure that dental hygienists possess the necessary knowledge, skills, and clinical judgement to competently perform a comprehensive extraoral and intraoral examination, including the oral cancer screening examination, prepare subsequent documentation, and manage an abnormal finding.

To support clinical application, a variety of dental hygienist and client resources have also been developed.

Module 1: Incidence and Mortality of Oral & Oropharyngeal Cancer in Canada

This module focusses on the incidence, mortality, and risk factors related to oral and oropharyngeal cancer. It is designed to elevate awareness of the importance of head and neck examinations, including oral and oropharyngeal cancer screening.

Module 2: The Extraoral Examination

This module provides a systematic overview of the anatomical structures that must be included in the extraoral examination, with attention to landmarking and palpation techniques. Learn to recognize the subtle extraoral signs and symptoms that may accompany oral and oropharyngeal cancer.

Module 3: The Intraoral Examination

This module guides the clinician step-by-step through the performance of an intraoral examination. Intraoral signs of both oral and oropharyngeal cancer are reviewed.

Module 4: Assessment, Management, and Referral

This module translates the knowledge gained from modules 1, 2, and 3 into clinical practice, outlines documentation and client management techniques, and reviews a management pathway decision-making tool for abnormal findings. Adjunctive chairside screening methods and client communication strategies are also presented.

More Course Information

Relevance to Practice

As primary oral health care professionals, dental hygienists have the responsibility and opportunity to make a powerful impact by increasing the early-stage discovery of these cancers. A comprehensive extraoral and intraoral examination and appropriate referral can save lives. Upon successful completion of this course, dental hygienists will have the knowledge, skills, and judgement to integrate these important aspects of dental hygiene care into their day-to-day practice.

Format for Learning

This course is available in English only. Registration for the course is done online and all the modules are viewed online in the comfort of your home, at your convenience and your pace. You may pause and restart at any time to break up your learning into several shorter sessions. The learning is self-directed. It is estimated that the entire course will take 5 to 6 hours to complete. However, you can take as much time as you need. The resource manual, a complement to the course, can be downloaded and printed. It is a valuable tool that includes learning outcomes, learning activities, a reference list for each module, and resources such as links to websites.

A pre-test at the beginning and a post-test at the end of each module are important self-assessment tools as you move through the course. A final 45-item multiple choice and case study examination will be administered once you have reviewed all four modules and finished the associated learning activities. A certificate of completion issued by CDHA may be printed from your computer upon achievement of a grade of 80% or higher on the final examination.

Course Developer

Jo-Anne Jones, DipDH, RDH

As an international, award-winning speaker, Jo-Anne Jones has made over 1,000 presentations worldwide. Jo-Anne brings life, energy, and inspiration to her work and has a dynamic speaking style that has made her a sought-after lecturer in the oral health community. In 2023, Jo-Anne joined the Dentistry Today CE Leaders for the 13th consecutive year. She has also been a Fellow of the International Academy for Dental Facial Esthetics since 2021. Jo-Anne proudly partners with the Oral Cancer Foundation in conveying the urgent need for change in the way we screen for oral and oropharyngeal cancer, and she was instrumental in launching the Check Your Mouth™ campaign promoting oral self-examination between professional visits.

Additional Resources

Oral & Oropharyngeal Cancer: Get the Facts

Oral & Oropharyngeal Cancer: A Guide to Self-Examination

Intraoral Assessment

Extraoral Assessment