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ORAL CANCER SCREENING: IT'S MORE THAN GRASPING THE TONGUE - PART I - Buffalo Dental Show

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Apr

ORAL CANCER SCREENING: IT’S MORE THAN GRASPING THE TONGUE – PART I

by

Thurs., Nov. 6, 2025
8:30am – 11:30am (3 CE hrs) / Lecture
Room 106-A
Speaker: Susan Cotten, BSDH, RDH, OMT

This course is supported, in part, by educational grants from AdDent-BioScreen, BioGaia, Crown Seating, and Q-Optics.

Recommended for: Dentists, Hygienists, and Students

Both dentists and dental hygienists play a critical role in the early detection of oral and oropharyngeal cancer. This course is a call to action, to calibrate and elevate the standard of care in oral cancer screening, increase early detection, and reduce liability of the dental professional as oral cancer remains one of the top two reasons they may face litigation.

Part One uncovers the latest evidence on oral and oropharyngeal cancer, including current etiologies, emerging risk factors, and the often-overlooked signs and symptoms every provider must recognize. Attendees will learn why conducting a thorough risk assessment and utilizing an oral cancer risk assessment form are essential first steps in delivering a truly comprehensive screening.

Learning Objectives:

  • List etiologies of oral and oropharyngeal cancer.
  • Discuss the Human Papillomavirus/HPV.
  • Recognize potential signs and symptoms of oral and oropharyngeal cancer.
  • Name additional risk factors of oral cancer.
  • Gain a deeper understanding why a thorough screening today includes a risk assessment and inquiry of persistent signs and symptoms.

Susan Cotten, BSDH, RDH, OMT is dentistry’s oral cancer coach, she has performed over 60 thousand oral cancer screenings. There was a time in Susan’s dental hygiene career when she knew very little about oral cancer and was neither confident nor thorough when performing an oral cancer screening. Two events in the same week in 2010, a heartbreaking conversation with her favorite patient – an HPV oropharyngeal cancer survivor, and being selected for Donny Osmond’s Make a Difference program, which acted as catalysts for her passion and deep dive into oral cancer and HPV. Susan expanded her knowledge in oral cancer and skills in screening, working with mentors – ENTs and Head and Neck surgeons.

Susan is a 1994 graduate of the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine Dept. of Dental Hygiene, the founder and CEO of Oral Cancer Free and Oral Cancer Consulting and developed The Cotten Method of screening. She is a 2018 RDH Sunstar Award of Distinction recipient, an RDH Magazine editorial board member, RDH Advisory Board member at the Oral Cancer Foundation, and an instructor at National Network of Healthcare Hygienists. Susan has organized countless free oral cancer screening events, including the Denver Broncos Health and Wellness Expo. She works with dental professionals who want more confidence in screening, to reduce the risk of liability, and increase early detection. On a personal note, she loves walking the beaches of Hawaii, watching college football, and is a former country dance competitor.

Ms. Cotten (or an immediate family member) has a significant relationship with the following commercial organizations whose products she will refer to in her presentation: Curaden,  BioGaia, VOCO, Alohabrite, and AdDent-BioScreen.

 

The University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, Office of Alumni Relations and Professional Engagement designates this activity for 3 continuing education credits.

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