The Importance of Oral Cancer Screenings by Nurse Practitioners

One person dies every hour from oral cancer complications, but if nurse practitioners were proficient in providing a 5-minute, comprehensive oral screening examination during routine care, many cases could be prevented or detected early. This training may decrease the incidence and prevalence of oral cancer and increase professional and public awareness. This procedure should be a shared medical and dental responsibility for patients that have medical coverage but no dental insurance. Nurse practitioners are focused on health promotion and prevention, so they are the ideal practitioner to oversee nurses working with the new requirements for long-term care.