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Updated: Apr 12, 2026
Author Spotlight: Unlocking the Mysteries of Oral Potential Malignancies
Published on: August 11, 2023
Why don't dentists talk to patients about oral cancer?
O Awojobi1, J T Newton1, S E Scott1
1Unit of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Division of Population and Patient Health, King's College London Dental Institute, Caldecot Road, London, SE5 9RW.
Objectives:
Up to half of oral cancer patients are diagnosed with advanced lesions. One route to early diagnosis could involve dentists raising awareness of oral cancer through discussions with patients, emphasising prompt help-seeking. This study explores opinions and practices of dentists regarding discussing oral cancer with patients including views on barriers and facilitators.
Design:
Qualitative in-depth interviews.Setting Dentists working in general dental practices in the United Kingdom were interviewed in 2013.
Subjects And Methods:
In-depth interviews with dentists (n = 16) were conducted. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Data was analysed using framework analysis.
Results:
Dentists recognised the importance of raising awareness but identified several barriers to discussions including system factors (for example, time constraints and a lack of financial incentive), patient factors (for example, fear of invoking undue anxiety) and dentist factors (for example, a lack of sufficient knowledge, training and self-confidence). Facilitators included developing practice standards and good dentist-patient relationships.
Conclusion:
Identified barriers may hold back efforts to raise awareness of oral cancer and could be targeted in future initiatives to encourage early detection.
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