Abstract

LIMEIRA, Francisco Ivison Rodrigues et al. Knowledge and attitudes of dentists toward oral cancer. Odontol. Clín.-Cient. (Online) [online]. 2015, vol.14, n.4, pp. 835-840. ISSN 1677-3888.

Background: The lack of symptomatology on oral cancer in the early stages and dentist's lack of preparation are factors that could be associated with delayed diagnosis. Aim: To characterize the knowledge and attitudes of dentists in private practices on Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil, about oral cancer. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study, with quantitative approach. The data collection was done using a questionnaire, and results were analyzed by descriptive statistics. Results: Of those 42 dentists interviewed, 57.1% (24) were male. Half of those surveyed were graduated about sixteen years ago or more, being the most of them postgraduate 78.5% (33). The majority, 54.7% (23) believed to have a relative knowledge about the disease. The examination of all oral structures on dental visit is made by 81.0% (34) of clinical dentists and 47.6% (20) of all dentists perform dental referral for lesion suspected of malignancy. About dental advices toward oral cancer, 64.2% (27) of dentists responded positively. Conclusions: The dental surgeons showed committed with prevention and diagnosis of oral cancer, including on their routine examination the search on normal range that can indicate the presence of precancerous lesions.

Keywords : Diagnóstico bucal; Neoplasias bucais; Odontologia preventiva.