LIMEIRA, Francisco Ivison Rodrigues et al. Knowledge and attitudes of dentists toward oral cancer. Odontol. Clín.-Cient. (Online) []. 2015, 14, 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.

: Diagnóstico bucal; Neoplasias bucais; Odontologia preventiva.