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Updated: Aug 25, 2026

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Oral cancer knowledge and practices of dentists along the Texas-Mexico border
Olusegun K Alonge1, Sena Narendran
1Department of Dental Public Health, Dental Branch, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston 77030, USA. Olusegun.K.Alonge@uth.tmc.edu
Background:
The study assessed the knowledge and clinical practices of Texas-Mexico border dentists in oral cancer prevention and early detection.
Methods:
A pretested, self-administered questionnaire was mailed to all 398 dentists registered to practice along the Texas-Mexico border.
Results:
Inadequacies and ambivalence in respondents' oral cancer knowledge and practices were evident. Performance of oral cancer examinations was associated with positive perception of undergraduate oral cancer training (P =.02). Most respondents (81%) were interested in oral cancer continuing education (CE).
Conclusions:
More emphasis on oral cancer training for dental students as well as provision of oral cancer CE to respondents are recommended.
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