April Focus: Early Detection & Prevention
Oral cancer is increasing, with the American Cancer Society projecting about 60,480 new cases and 13,150 deaths in the U.S. in 2026.1 The five-year survival rate hovers around 40% because most cases go undetected until later stages, leaving survivors to manage challenges like facial disfigurement and difficulty eating or speaking. Dental hygienists play a critical role in turning those numbers around.
Take some time in April for oral cancer-specific learning and amplify your awareness, understanding and knowledge to support your patients with prevention, detection, diagnosis and care management.
April Events & Content
Precision Oral Cancer Screening: Implementing 2026 Standards
FREE! April 8, 2026 | 6:00 – 7:30 pm CT
Presenter: Jaisri R. Thoppay, BDS, MBA, MS, DABOM, MSHA, EdD(c)
Learn to integrate 2026 oral cancer screening standards into clinical practice, perform standardized head, neck, and intraoral examinations, apply evidence-based diagnostic adjuncts, and follow a clear pathway for suspicious lesions.
Presented in partnership with the American Academy of Oral Medicine.
HPV Testing Disparities Persist in Oropharyngeal Cancer Care
By JoAnn Gurenlian, RDH, MS, PhD, AAFAAOM, FADHA
Despite 2012 recommendations, HPV testing for oropharyngeal cancer remains inconsistent, with disparities affecting Black, uninsured, and low-income patients. Testing plateaued after 2017, leaving gaps in equitable care.
On-Demand CE on Oral Cancer
Give oral cancer some of your time this month with convenience, useful and Free CE on this important topic.
Using Brief Motivational Interviewing for Tobacco Cessation in Oral Cancer Prevention
Discover motivational interviewing to help patients quit smoking, learn to assess readiness to quit and guide change conversations using Ask, Advise, Refer. Special guest from the CDC’s 2024 Tips From Former Smokers campaign.
Presenters: Michelle Arnett, RDH, MS, and JoAnn Gurenlian, RDH, MS, PhD, AAFAAOM, FADHA
1.0 FREE CE during April
The Dental Hygienist & Oral Cancer Diagnosis: What’s My Role?
An overview of the clinical features of OSCC and OPMDs, best practices for examining the oral cavity and identifying concerning features, and how to refer patients with suspicious oral lesions for further evaluation and diagnosis.
Presenters: Nathaniel S. Treister, DMD, DMSc, Jaisri Thoppay, Nancy W. Burkhart, Ed.D, M.Ed., BS, RDH, AAFAAOM
1.5 FREE CE during April
From the Journal of Dental Hygiene
Minutes of our Time. A Lifetime for our Patients!
Catherine Draper, RDH, MS, FADHA and JoAnn Gurenlian, RDH, MS, PhD, AAFAAOM, FADHA
April 2026, 100 (2) 4-5
Dental hygienists have an ethical obligation to perform comprehensive extraoral and intraoral examinations. With oral cancer rates rising and late-stage diagnoses common, head and neck screenings take minutes and save lives.
Embracing the Powers of Prevention
Jennifer S. Brown, RDH, BSDH, TTS, COSE
April 2026, 100 (2) 6-8
Dental hygienists are uniquely positioned to detect oral and oropharyngeal cancers early. With HPV-driven cases rising sharply, consistent head and neck examinations, risk assessment, and timely referrals are essential to saving lives.
1Key Statistics for Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancers. (2026). American Cancer Society. Retrieved March 31, 2026, from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/oral-cavity-and-oropharyngeal-cancer/about/key-statistics.html