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AGD Foundation to focus on oral cancer

AGD member Francia Mercedes, DDS, provides an oral cancer screening to a patient during the 2014 AGD Annual Meeting & Exhibits in Detroit. (Photo: AGD)
Dental Tribune USA

Dental Tribune USA

Mon. 27 October 2014

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CHICAGO, Ill., USA: The Academy of General Dentistry Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the AGD, will focus on training dentists to screen for oral cancer. “Over the next several years, we will focus our outreach and energy on various initiatives to fight oral cancer,” said Gerald J. Botko, DMD, MS, MAGD, FACD, president of the AGD Foundation Board of Directors.

“We believe general dentists are the public’s first line of defense against this deadly disease,” Botko said.

Oral cancer is particularly dangerous because it can go unnoticed in its preliminary stages. In many cases, however, dentists can identify its early signs and symptoms.

“The first step in fighting oral cancer is early detection, which includes semiannual visits to a general dentist,” Botko said. “By recognizing the disease in its preliminary stages, general dentists can help increase survival rates.”

Following a successful debut event during the AGD 2014 Annual Meeting & Exhibits in Detroit, the AGD Foundation says it will continue over the next several years to integrate free oral cancer screenings with oral health education for the public.

In addition to free oral cancer screenings, the AGD Foundation aims to provide AGD’s 39,000 members with free or low-cost continuing education on the latest oral cancer identification techniques. The AGD Foundation also plans to work with organizations, dental companies, and others who are invested in the cause. In order to make this happen, the AGD Foundation has initiated a major fundraising effort with AGD members and outside donors.

(Source: AGD)

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