By Jo-Anne Jones, RDH, FIADFE
August 12, 2025

Don’t miss Ms. Jones’ session at ADHA25 in Long Beach, CA on Saturday, October 4 – ED01: WNL: Within Normal Limits or a Dangerous Assumption.

What motivates someone to share one of the most challenging and traumatic chapters of their life with others? The ability to instill purpose in those who have the ability to impact outcomes and hope for those who follow in the same footsteps. This is best articulated in the words of an oral cancer survivor.

 

A Call to Action from a Cancer Survivor

“Please don’t underestimate the importance of follow-up and trust your instincts when something looks even slightly off.  I understand how busy clinics can get and how rare oral cancers are in young patients but dismissing something without investigation can have serious consequences. What I really want you to take away from my story is how early detection can literally save lives. Also, I want you to empower your patients. Encourage them to advocate for themselves. Let them know that if they’re still concerned, it’s okay to seek a second opinion.

You are often the first line of defense when it comes to detecting oral cancer.

I will forever be grateful for the ER doctor who took me seriously and for the surgeon who didn’t stop until we had a clear answer. You are often the first line of defense when it comes to detecting oral cancer. Please take that role seriously and take those few extra minutes to actively listen to not only your patients’ symptoms but also their concerns, because your attention to detail and follow-up could be the difference between early-stage treatment and a life-altering diagnosis.”

The preceding are the words of one of the powerful stories I will be sharing at the ADHA25 Annual Conference in Long Beach, California this coming October in my presentation entitled “WNL:  Within Normal Limits or a Dangerous Assumption.” It is with humility and appreciation that I have been entrusted with sharing so many oral and oropharyngeal cancer cases with my professional community so that we may learn from each of their clinical journeys. Each story, accompanied by compelling images is matched with knowledge translation direct to clinical practice for both the extraoral and the intraoral examination; essentially what have we learned as a professional body from the journey of a survivor or from a family who have lost a loved one.

 

Evaluation of Screening Techniques

The face of oral and oropharyngeal cancer is changing—and if you’re screening the way you always have, you’re already behind.

The face of oral and oropharyngeal cancer is changing—and if you’re screening the way you always have, you’re already behind. With risk factors evolving and cancers on the rise in younger, healthier populations, we can no longer rely on outdated techniques or assumptions. The approach to the cancer screening examination must be both effective and efficient. Attention to identification of high-risk anatomical areas both extraorally and intraorally, accompanied by a refresh of palpation techniques, will ensure your screening is aligned with the needs of today’s population.  The often life-saving symptoms are very subtle making it imperative for early recognition which may lead to earlier discovery.

Adjunctive screening technologies can also impact our ability to see beyond what white light examination may reveal. Abnormal cellular differentiation begins at the basement membrane. Relying on visual white light evaluation only inhibits our ability to find pre-cancer or cancerous lesions at a much earlier stage. The supporting science for direct fluorescence visualization will be compared and contrasted with white light examination providing an opportunity for attendees to critically assess and determine if adopting supports their goal to enhance their ability to discover abnormalities earlier and greatly impact treatment outcomes.

A personal thank you to those who will be joining me in at ADHA25 in Long Beach. It is your commitment and dedication to the acquisition of knowledge that will save lives. Four minutes of your time could mean a lifetime for one of your patients.   

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Headshot of Jo-Anne Jones, RDH

Jo-Anne Jones, RDH, FIADFEA, is a respected thought leader and international, award-winning speaker, who has given over 1,000 presentations worldwide. Jo-Anne is a past honoree of DPR’s Top 25 Women in Dentistry and joins the 2025 Dentistry Today CE Leaders for the 15th consecutive year. A Fellowship Award with the International Academy for Dental Facial Esthetics was presented to Jo-Anne for her contributions to the field of dentistry. Her work focuses on urgent issues within the dental field, such as oral and oropharyngeal cancer screening and HPV awareness, highlighting the latest research and practical applications for dental professionals. A frank and open lecture style and a focus on direct knowledge translation have earned Jo-Anne many loyal followers both nationally and internationally.