A dental nurse's role in… oral health

The dental nurse Scope of Practice now includes ‘further skills in oral health education and oral health promotion’. Should you wish to branch into pastures new then, with training, this is another career path open to you. As a profession, we often give oral health promotion without even thinking. A great example of this relates to National Smile Month or Mouth Cancer Action Month.

Well, the oral cancer statistics make for a sad read. Cancer Research UK tells us there were 7,591 cases of oral cancer in 2013. That year, there were 21 cases every single day. Their statistics show an increase of 39% over that last decade. These results may be an increase in cases alone and it may be an increase in patient awareness that leads them to seek treatment and, possibly, earlier diagnosis is also a contributing factor. As dental care professionals, we have a duty to help look after our patients' oral health, not just treat the caries and periodontal disease; we could even save their life! There are several known causes or associations with oral cancer that we can relay to our patients to help prevent, or lower, the risks of mouth cancer. November is often a big month to help promote education around oral cancer. Mouth Cancer Action Month also uses ‘blue lip selfies' as a tool to help raise the profile and understanding of this condition. Its website has lots of information to help practices get involved and you can easily register for a fundraising pack. Not only could your involvement help save a life, it can also be used to help promote your practice as well. With a little time and effort, this is a really nice way to help patients see there is a human underneath the tunic, help us appear more approachable and help them understand what changes to look for themselves. Early diagnosis is always important for treating cancer. So, as a nurse, how can you help? In some cases, patients will see more of us than their doctor. For example, previously doctors would have given tobacco cessation but we should also be active in this role. Having a good knowledge of what causes oral carcinomas, what the risks are and giving the patients the information they need to live a healthier life is part of our profession's role.