Thurs., Nov. 6, 2025
Time: TBD (PM) / Lecture
Room: TBD
Speaker: Susan Cotten, BSDH, RDH, OMT

Recommended for: Everyone

Time constraints, a lack of confidence when screening, or the belief a patient isn’t at risk are reported reasons a comprehensive oral cancer screening isn’t performed. Sometimes there is no reason, it just isn’t performed. Dental professionals are at varying stages of skill and confidence in screening. The purpose of this course is to meet dental professionals where they are and support them in achieving confidence and skill in this life-saving procedure. When a clinician is skilled and confident in performing a procedure, it is more likely to be done and performed efficiently and thoroughly.

This is the 4th science-based pillar in The Cotten Method of screening. Susan utilizes her instructional screening videos, photos, and case presentations to unpack the components of a comprehensive, visual and tactile, extraoral, intraoral evaluation. This course discusses clinician and patient positioning for optimal visualization, proper palpation techniques, and assessment of the thyroid gland. Utilizing Susan’s training as a Myofunctional Therapist, attendees will learn Mallampati Score and Tonsil Grade recognition and documentation, and why these are critical in the oropharyngeal evaluation. Liability concerns, updated coding, and documentation will be reviewed. By attending this course, dental professionals will have a renewed and invigorating confidence in screening!

Learning Objectives:

• List components of a comprehensive extraoral and intraoral evaluation.
• Identify Tonsil Grade, Mallampati Score, and why these are important in screening.
• Discuss thorough documentation.
• Name the anatomical structures examined in the oropharyngeal evaluation.
• Review potential areas of liability for dental professionals in oral cancer.

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

Susan Cotten, BSDH, RDH, OMT is dentistry’s oral cancer coach, she has performed over 60 thousand oral cancer screenings! She lives and breathes early detection of oral and oropharyngeal cancer, thoroughly screening every patient, and reducing the risk of liability for the dental professional. As a skin cancer survivor, Susan advocates for observing the skin of the head and neck for abnormalities during the oral cancer screening and making a referral to a dermatologist for further investigation.

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. It was two events within the same week, a heartbreaking conversation with her favorite patient who is an 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 HPV, oral and oropharyngeal cancer, and creating The Cotton Method of screening.

Susan is the founder and CEO of Oral Cancer Consulting, and she developed The Cotten Method of screening. Susan believes the entire dental team plays a role in raising awareness, educating patients, and early detection. She works with dental professionals who want to have confidence in screening, reduce the risk of liability, increase early detection, and perform this procedure efficiently.

Susan is the Dental Lead for the Alliance for HPV Free Colorado, an RDH Magazine editorial board member, a RDH Advisory Board member at the Oral Cancer Foundation, an instructor at National Network of Healthcare Hygienists, and KOL for several dental companies. Susan has organized countless free oral cancer screening events, including the Denver Broncos Health and Wellness Expo, and most recently at Rocky Mountain Dental Convention. Susan has volunteered with a head and neck oncology surgeon providing free head and neck exams/oral cancer screenings to the homeless. She has appeared on 9News in Denver discussing HPV, the HPV vaccine, and oral cancer. She is a past oral cancer screening coordinator and board member for the Colorado Mission of Mercy.

Susan was selected the winner of Dentistry’s Got Talent in 2023, a dental speaking competition consisting of dentists, dental hygienists, consultants, and coaches. Judges were event planners from major dental conferences across the U.S. Susan is the 2020 recipient of the Ethyl Covington Award from the Colorado Dental Hygienists’ Association/CODHA. In 2018 she received the Sunstar RDH Award of Distinction and CODHA Outstanding Contribution Award. Susan founded M.A.D. (Make A Difference) for Healthy Smiles as a 2010-2011 member of Donny Osmond’s inaugural Make a Difference program and received Volunteer of the Year from the Oral Cancer Foundation in 2011.

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, Crown Seating, BioGaia. VOCO, and AdDent.

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