Eliminating Medicaid dental benefits and early-stage oral cancer diagnoses.

BACKGROUND: Despite the importance of regular dental visits for detecting oral cancer, millions of low-income adults lack access to dental services. In July 2009, California eliminated adult Medicaid dental benefits. We tested if this impacted oral cancer detection for Medicaid enrollees. METHODS: We analyzed Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicaid data, which contains verified Medicaid enrollment status, to estimate a difference-in-differences model. Our design compares the change in early-stage (Stages 0-II) diagnoses before and after dropping dental benefits in California with the change in early-stage diagnoses among eight states that did not change Medicaid dental benefits. Patients were grouped by oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) and non-OPC (oral cavity cancer), type, and the length of Medicaid enrollment. We also assessed if the effect of dropping dental benefits varied by the number of dentists per capita. RESULTS: Dropping Medicaid dental benefits was associated with a 6.5%-point decline in early-stage diagnoses of non-OPC (95% CI = -14.5, -3.2, p = 0.008). This represented a 20% relative reduction from baseline rates. The effect was highest among beneficiaries with 3 months of continuous Medicaid enrollment prior to diagnosis who resided in counties with more dentists per capita. Specifically, dropping dental coverage was associated with a 1.25%-point decline in the probability of early-stage non-OPC diagnoses for every additional dentist per 5000 population (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Eliminating Medicaid dental benefits negatively impacted early detection of cancers of the oral cavity. Continued volatility of Medicaid dental coverage and provider shortages may be further delaying oral cancer diagnoses. Alternative approaches are needed to prevent advanced stage OPC.

A Prospective Double-Blinded Comparison of Reflectance Confocal Microscopy with Conventional Histopathology for In Vivo Assessment in Oral Cancer.

PURPOSE: We investigated reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) as a possible noninvasive approach for the diagnosis of cancer and real-time assessment of surgical margins. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: In a phase I study on 20 patients, we established the RCM imaging morphologic features that distinguish oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) from normal tissue with a newly developed intraoral RCM probe. Our subsequent phase II prospective double-blinded study in 60 patients tested the diagnostic accuracy of RCM against histopathology. Five RCM videos from the tumor and five from normal surrounding mucosa were collected on each patient, followed by a 3-mm punch biopsy of the imaged area. An experienced RCM reader, who was blinded to biopsy location and histologic diagnosis, examined the videos from both regions and classified each as "tumor" or "not tumor" based on RCM features established in phase I. Hematoxylin and eosin slides from the biopsies were read by a pathologist who was blinded to RCM results. Using histology as the gold standard, we calculated the sensitivity and specificity of RCM. RESULTS: We report a high agreement between the blinded readers (95% for normal tissue and 81.7% for tumors), high specificity (98.3%) and negative predictive values (96.6%) for normal tissue identification, and high sensitivity (90%) and positive predictive values (88.2%) for tumor detection. CONCLUSIONS: RCM imaging is a promising technology for noninvasive in vivo diagnosis of OSCC and for real-time intraoperative evaluation of mucosal surgical margins. Its inherent constraint, however, stems from the diminished capability to evaluate structures located at more substantial depths within the tissue.

Fabrication of a Low Cost Superhydrophobic Substrate for Surface Enhanced Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and Its Utility through Identification of Electrolyte Variation for Oral Cancer Detection.

Ultratrace elemental detections from a limited volume of samples can offer significant benefits in biomedical fields. However, it can be challenging to concentrate the particles being analyzed in a small area to improve the accuracy of detection. Ring-like deposits on the edges of colloidal droplets are a vexing problem in many applications. Herein, we report ultratrace elemental detection using a superhydrophobic surface-enhanced laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (SELIBS) substrate fabricated by laser ablation followed by a soft lithography technique. In this work, the SELIBS spectra on a superhydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate replicated from a laser-patterned master Teflon substrate are investigated. This work highlights the application of this newly created superhydrophobic substrate for detecting trace elements in body fluids using SELIBS. The developed PDMS substrate was successfully adopted to investigate the electrolyte variation in serum samples of oral cancer patients and normal volunteers. Principal component analysis (PCA) and match-no-match analysis were used to distinguish the elemental variation in cancer and control groups.

Leveraging artificial intelligence for perioperative cancer risk assessment of oral potentially malignant disorders.

Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) are mucosal conditions with an inherent disposition to develop oral squamous cell carcinoma. Surgical management is the most preferred strategy to prevent malignant transformation in OPMDs, and surgical approaches to treatment include conventional scalpel excision, laser surgery, cryotherapy, and photodynamic therapy. However, in reality, since all patients with OPMDs will not develop oral squamous cell carcinoma in their lifetime, there is a need to stratify patients according to their risk of malignant transformation to streamline surgical intervention for patients with the highest risks. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to integrate disparate factors influencing malignant transformation for robust, precise, and personalized cancer risk stratification of OPMD patients than current methods to determine the need for surgical resection, excision, or re-excision. Therefore, this article overviews existing AI models and tools, presents a clinical implementation pathway, and discusses necessary refinements to aid the clinical application of AI-based platforms for cancer risk stratification of OPMDs in surgical practice.

Assessment of brush biopsy findings and salivary LDH levels in oral mucosal lesions of tobacco users.

Introduction: The oral brush cytology is an alternative method developed to improve the efficacy of conventional cytology in oral potentially malignant disorder (OPMD), and salivary lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) which is a cytoplasmic enzyme has been widely used as a marker for diagnosing various diseases. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the brush biopsy findings and salivary LDH levels for the early diagnosis of premalignant and malignant lesions of the oral cavity. Materials and Methods: Patients with deleterious habits including tobacco-related lesions such as leukoplakia, tobacco pouch keratosis, and oral cancer were included in the study. For each patient, saliva sample was collected, brush biopsy was done and smears were prepared. Collected saliva samples were analysed for salivary LDH levels and prepared smears were analysed for dysplastic changes and statistical analysis was performed. Results: Out of 80 samples, 30 were leukoplakia, 45 were tobacco pouch keratosis and 5 were oral cancer, and 13 samples showed positive dysplastic changes, 26 samples showed atypical dysplastic changes and 41 samples showed no signs of dysplastic changes and concluded as negative. On comparing the results of brush biopsy findings and salivary LDH levels, the mean salivary LDH value for positive dysplasia was elevated and the P value was statistically significant (P value: 0.00). Conclusion: Brush biopsy showed good potential in detecting premalignant lesions and salivary LDH levels showed a marked increase which can be used as a diagnostic biomarker and serve as a potent diagnostic aid for early detection of malignancy.

[Oral cancer screening: what can the healthcare system do to reduce the burden of disease?] / Szájüregi daganatszurés: mit tehet az egészségügyi ellátórendszer a betegségteher mérsékléséért?

Due to its high incidence and mortality, oral cancer makes a group of diseases of public health importance. Oral screening is a simple three-step procedure: the first step is questioning the patient about his/her smoking/drinking habits, secondly, visual inspection of the oral cavity, and finally, palpation of regional lymph nodes. If precancerous conditions or any form of oral cancer are suspected, the task is to send the examined person to oral clinical care. The examination can routinly be performed by dentists, but also by general practitioners and occupational health personnel. The difficulty of oral screening arises from the fact that most of the patients are of low socio-economic status. The organization of oral screening is the responsibility of the healthcare system personnel: their task is to identify the high-risk persons and to direct them to the scene of the screening. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(38): 1497-1505.

An assessment of oral cancer knowledge, attitudes, and practices among undergraduate students in Malaysian dental schools.

BACKGROUND: Oral cancer is a significant public health concern worldwide. Early detection and prevention are crucial in reducing the morbidity and mortality rates associated with this disease. As future dental professionals, dental undergraduates play a vital role in promoting oral health and identifying potential oral cancer cases. METHODS: This study aimed to evaluate the level of oral cancer awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and practices among dental undergraduates in Malaysia. A total of 595 students from years 3, 4, and 5 in both public and private universities participated. RESULTS: The results showed that a higher percentage of dental undergraduates from private universities were aware of oral cancer and had satisfactory knowledge compared to those from public universities (p < 0.05). Moreover, 59.4% of respondents felt less confident in diagnosing oral cancer during routine dental practice, and 96.1% agreed on the need to increase public awareness of oral health. Interestingly, students from private universities exhibited higher levels of awareness and knowledge regarding oral cancer than those from public universities. CONCLUSIONS: To enhance oral cancer detection and prevention, it is essential to reinforce the current curriculum and provide training to improve diagnostic skills for every dental undergraduate. This will ensure that they are well-equipped with the necessary knowledge and competence to detect and prevent oral cancer effectively.

Intraoperative assessment of resection margins by Raman spectroscopy to guide oral cancer surgery.

Patients with oral cavity cancer are almost always treated with surgery. The goal is to remove the tumor with a margin of more than 5 mm of surrounding healthy tissue. Unfortunately, this is only achieved in about 15% to 26% of cases. Intraoperative assessment of tumor resection margins (IOARM) can dramatically improve surgical results. However, current methods are laborious, subjective, and logistically demanding. This hinders broad adoption of IOARM, to the detriment of patients. Here we present the development and validation of a high-wavenumber Raman spectroscopic technology, for quick and objective intraoperative measurement of resection margins on fresh specimens. It employs a thin fiber-optic needle probe, which is inserted into the tissue, to measure the distance between a resection surface and the tumor. A tissue classification model was developed to discriminate oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) from healthy oral tissue, with a sensitivity of 0.85 and a specificity of 0.92. The tissue classification model was then used to develop a margin length prediction model, showing a mean difference between margin length predicted by Raman spectroscopy and histopathology of -0.17 mm.

Oral cancer care in the "Metropolitan I" health region in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: enabling and constraining factors. / Atenção ao câncer bucal na região de saúde Metropolitana I do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil: fatores facilitadores e coercitivos.

The aim was to identify constraining and enabling factors related to the organization of health care networks that influence access to oral cancer diagnosis and treatment. A case study in the "Metropolitan I" health region using data collected from health information systems and 26 semi-structured interviews with health managers and professionals. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and strategic conduct analysis, drawing on the theory of structuration proposed by Giddens. The findings reveal that coverage of oral health care in primary care services is generally low and prioritizes specific groups and urgent cases, hampering access to oral cancer diagnosis. While the presence of a network of secondary care services in the municipalities that make up the health region facilitates diagnosis, there are major barriers to treatment. Informal partnerships established with dental schools play an important role in diagnosis, but do not receive funding. The regulation of appointments for diagnosis was not restrictive. In contrast, the regulation of referrals for treatment lacked transparency, was subject to long delays, and shortage of places. Despite advances, constraining factors related to structure and the actions of agents involved in the care process persist, hampering the timely diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer.

O objetivo foi identificar os fatores facilitadores e coercitivos da organização da rede de atenção à saúde que intervêm sobre o acesso ao diagnóstico e tratamento do câncer bucal. Um estudo de caso da região de saúde Metropolitana I do estado do Rio de Janeiro, com coleta de dados em sistemas de informação e 26 entrevistas com gestores e profissionais. A análise dos dados foi realizada por meio das técnicas de estatística descritiva e análise temática, à luz da Teoria da Estruturação de Giddens. Identificou-se baixa cobertura de saúde bucal na atenção básica, com priorização do acesso a grupos prioritários e urgências, dificultando o acesso ao diagnóstico do câncer bucal neste nível de atenção. A presença da rede secundária em todos os municípios da região facilita o diagnóstico, porém há limites para o acesso ao tratamento. Faculdades de odontologia atuam no diagnóstico como rede informal, ação importante, mas não financiada. A regulação para o diagnóstico não foi restritiva, mas para o tratamento a regulação foi considerada pouco transparente e demorada, com falta de vagas. Apesar dos avanços, persistem fatores coercitivos estruturais e nas ações dos agentes que restringem diagnóstico e tratamento oportuno do câncer bucal.

HIF - 1α as a marker of risk assessment for malignant transformation in oral submucous fibrosis: An immunohistochemical study.

Background: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a potentially malignant disorder associated with habit of chewing betel quid containing arecanut. Morphological features of OSMF especially fibrosis suggests a possibility of the hypoxic environment in diseased tissues. The adaptation of cells to hypoxia appears to be mediated via hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) which is also said to be associated with malignant transformation of epithelial cells in various other carcinomas like prostate and cervical carcinoma. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to investigate the role of HIF-1α in progression and malignant transformation of OSMF. Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of histo-pathologically diagnosed 30 cases of oral submucous fibrosis and 10 cases of OSCC were taken as control. The immunohistochemistry was carried out on neutral buffered formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections by using the monoclonal antibody of HIF-1α. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version 2.0. Results: A gradual and significant rise in the expression of HIF-1α was observed in various grades of OSMF and OSCC cases. HIF 1α expression was increased in cases showing hylanization and constricted blood vessels. A cut off value of 39.6% of HIF-1α positive cells was determined statistically to categorize the cases into high risk and low risk group for malignant transformation. Conclusion: Overexpression of HIF-1α may contribute to the progression and malignant transformation of OSMF. Cases expressing more than 40% of HIF-1α positive cells are at a greater risk for malignant transformation.

Oral cancer screening prevalence in low-income adults before and after the ACA.

BACKGROUND: Detecting oral cancer early is associated with higher probability of survival, reduced treatment costs, and improved quality of life. Unfortunately, <30% of oral cancers are detected early. Recent health insurance expansions from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) could improve outcomes by increasing access to screening. However, due to the differences in screening practices by physicians and dentists, the impact of expanded access to insurance on oral cancer screenings remains unknown. METHODS: Self-reported oral cancer screening data were obtained from The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for years 2011-2017. NHANES questionnaires ask respondents if they have received an oral cancer screen from a physician or dentist in the past year. Along with adjusting for demographic characteristics, this study accounts for unobserved heterogeneity by comparing "Differences-in-Differences" estimates of low-income adults (<200 % FPL) with high-income adults, before and after the ACA (2014), for adults most exposed (<age 65) to insurance expansion. RESULTS: Before and after the ACA, low-income adults had the lowest prevalence of oral cancer screenings. However, relative to high-income adults, the ACA was associated with a 5-6%-point increase in oral cancer screenings for low-income adults under age 65, but only for screenings performed by dentists. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, oral cancer screening rates have been declining across the population, but the ACA may have slowed the decline in low-income adults. Understanding why oral cancer screenings are declining could inform cancer control policies. Research evaluating the impact of access to oral cancer screenings remains warranted.

Oral brush biopsy using liquid-based cytology is a reliable tool for oral cancer screening: A cost-utility analysis: Oral brush biopsy for oral cancer screening.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the diagnostic utility and associated cost of oral liquid-based brush cytology (OLBC) in the diagnosis of oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs). METHODS: A total of 284 patients with oral mucosal lesions were included. OLBC samples were collected from all patients immediately before undergoing surgical biopsies. A liquid-based cytology slide was prepared from each OLBC sample for cytological evaluation using the modified 2014 Bethesda cytology system. The results and the cost were compared with the histopathological outcomes. RESULTS: The level of agreement between the two approaches was very good (weighted kappa = 0.824). The accuracy of OLBC in differentiating between the different diagnostic groups was 91.69%, whereas the associated sensitivity and specificity were 79.23% and 94.81%, respectively. The estimated cost of each OLBC sample was at least 26% less than the cost of a single biopsy and more than 42% less in cases of multiple biopsied lesions. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed modifications of the Bethesda system can be adopted as a standardized system for oral cytological assessment. Our findings support OLBC as a reliable adjunct to surgical biopsy in the diagnosis of OPMDs. This tool has potential for oral cancer-finding and surveillance programs.

Cold spot assessment in Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition: a histological predictor of tumor recurrence in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: To investigate clinical implications of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) expression in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Materials and. Methods: E-cadherin and vimentin expression was studied in 50 newly diagnosed cases of OSCC who underwent surgical excision. EMT expression at non cold spot infiltrative margin and cold spot was studied and correlated with prognostic factors and disease-free survival (DFS). Results: EMT expression at the cold spot and non-cold spot infiltrative margin showed significant results with nodal status (P < 0.001, P < 0.009 respectively). On multivariate analysis, only EMT at the cold spot correlated significantly with prognostic factors (P < 0.030). The factors affecting DFS on Kaplan Meier index were EMT expression and differentiation (P < 0.002, P < 0.016 respectively) which proved significant in cox regression analysis. Conclusion: The study reveals that EMT expression at the cold spot is a significant biomarker for predicting lymph-node metastasis and tumor recurrence in OSCC.

Effectiveness of "OralDETECT": a Repetitive Test-enhanced, Corrective Feedback Method Competency Assessment Tool for Early Detection of Oral Cancer.

Early diagnosis of oral cancer results in less aggressive treatment and improves the quality of life and overall 5-year survival rate. Well-trained dental professionals can play a crucial role in the early detection of oral cancers. The present study aims to determine the effectiveness of the training program "OralDETECT", a spaced repetitive, test-enhanced learning tool with a corrective feedback mechanism for early detection of oral cancer. Thirty-two dentists and 259 dental students from three Malaysian dental schools were involved in this study. All participants were trained and calibrated to recognize oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) and oral cancer using "OralDETECT", which is comprised of a series of pre-test, lecture, post-tests and review sessions. The percentage of correct answers (scores) for each test given by the participants was calculated and analysed using a paired t test. It was found that the overall percentage of diagnostic accuracy for both dental professionals and student groups increased to above 80% from the pre-tests to the final post-tests. There was a significant improvement in overall scores between the pre-tests and all three post-tests for the dental professional groups and the student groups. The diagnostic accuracy for individual OPMD and lesions suspicious of oral cancer also increased to above 80% for both groups. The results of our study demonstrate that the "OralDETECT" is an efficient and effective competency tool which can be used to train dental professionals and students for the early detection of OPMD and oral cancer.

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Regarding Oral Cancer among Dental Graduates-A Web-Based Survey.

The present study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice among new dental graduates across India. A web-based questionnaire was generated as a link through Google Drive which was sent to approximately 250 dental graduates using Whatsapp messenger. A total of 205 complete responses were received and analyzed. Frequency analysis was done using SPSS software version 21. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) was identified as most common cancer by 48% of the subjects while the stage of oral cancer in which it is most often diagnosed was only responded correctly by 15.5% as advanced stage. Approximately one fourth (25.4%) of the participants performed dental examination to detect cancer routinely in all patients. Half of the study subjects were confident in detecting oral cancer, still majority (70.6%) of the subjects were interested in attending continuing education course on oral cancer in the future. This study revealed that the majority of the new dental clinicians were not having legitimate knowledge regarding oral cancer. Thus, this lacuna in knowledge and skills can be eliminated by conducting workshops and continuing education programs. This may subsequently aid to improve patient care.

Oral cancer in India, a growing problem: Is limiting the exposure to avoidable risk factors the only way to reduce the disease burden?

Cancer represents an uncontrolled growth of cells that invade and cause damage to the adjacent tissues. Globally oral cancer ranks as the sixth most common type of cancer. As compared to the west, the problem of oral cancer is significantly higher in India. The spectrum of oral diseases is formed with oral cancer at one extreme and potentially malignant disorders (PMDs) at the other extreme. Screening programs for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer indicate that visual examination as a part of a population-based screening program reduces the mortality rate of oral cancer in high-risk individuals. Tobacco and alcohol consumption remains the main factors for oral cancer and education of the population about the ill effects of tobacco and alcohol consumption is necessary at a broader scale.

Development and Evolution of a Diagnostic and Oral Pathology Service in a Southeast Brazilian State / Desenvolvimento e Evolução de um Serviço de Diagnóstico e de Patologia Bucal em um Estado do Sudeste Brasileiro / Desarrollo y Evolución de un Servicio de Diagnóstico y Patología Oral en un Estado del Sudeste Brasileño

Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most frequent cancers whose main causes are preventable because oral cavity is easily accessible for examination. OSCC involves many steps from the diagnosis until treatment which can result in late diagnosis and worst prognosis. Objective: Development and evolution of a Stomatology and Oral Pathology Service at the Federal University of Alfenas addressing early diagnosis and management of oral lesions. Method: Retrospective study developed with the files from 1998 to 2019. Data from all the cases diagnosed as oral malignancies were collected and the demographical, clinical, and microscope diagnosis were included. Results: 270 (84.64%) OSCC were found among 8,952 histopathological diagnoses. The patients age ranged from 24 to 94 years (mean 59.7±13.1 years), and more frequent in the sixth (32.3%) and seventh (26%) decades of life. Men were 2.5 times more affected than women. Most of patients were Caucasian (74.8%), and users of tobacco and alcohol. Over the years, there was an increase in the number of cases diagnosed and expansion of the area covered by the Service. Conclusion: The Dental Clinic (Stomatology) and Oral Pathology Laboratory has been playing an important role for the establishment and improvement of the healthcare system to the local population, mainly in rural áreas

Introdução: O carcinoma de células escamosas (CEC) de boca está entre os cânceres mais frequentes. Suas principais causas são evitáveis, pois a cavidade oral é uma área de fácil acesso para exame. No entanto, desde o estabelecimento do diagnóstico até o tratamento final dos pacientes, o CEC envolve muitas etapas e pode resultar em diagnóstico tardio e, portanto, em pior prognóstico para os pacientes. Objetivo: Apresentar o desenvolvimento e a evolução de um Serviço de Estomatologia e Patologia Oral da Universidade Federal de Alfenas, que tem como foco o diagnóstico precoce e o tratamento de lesões bucais. Método: Estudo retrospectivo com os prontuários de 1998 a 2019. Foram coletados dados de todos os casos diagnosticados como malignidades orais e incluídos os diagnósticos demográficos, clínicos e microscópicos. Resultados: Entre 8.952 diagnósticos histopatológicos realizados, 270 (84,64%) eram CCE. A idade dos pacientes variou de 24 a 94 anos (média 59,7±13,1 anos), sendo mais frequente na sexta (32,3%) e sétima (26%) décadas de vida. Os homens foram 2,5 vezes mais afetados do que as mulheres. A maioria dos pacientes era branca (74,8%) e o uso de tabaco e álcool, frequente. Ao longo dos anos, houve um aumento do número de casos diagnosticados, bem como uma ampliação da área de cobertura do Serviço. Conclusão: O Serviço de Estomatologia e Patologia Oral tem desempenhado um papel importante na implantação e melhoria do sistema de saúde da população local, principalmente nas Regiões interioranas e em áreas rurais

Introducción: El carcinoma de células escamosas (CCE) de boca se encuentra entre los cánceres más frecuentes. Sus principales causas se pueden prevenir ya que la cavidad bucal es un área de fácil acceso para su examen. Sin embargo, desde el establecimiento del diagnóstico hasta el tratamiento final de los pacientes, la CEC implica muchos pasos y puede resultar en un diagnóstico tardío y, por lo tanto, un peor pronóstico para los pacientes. Objetivo: Presentar el desarrollo y evolución de un Servicio de Estomatología y Patología Bucal de la Universidad Federal de Alfenas que se enfoca en el diagnóstico y tratamiento precoz de las lesiones bucales. Método: Estudio retrospectivo con historias clínicas de 1998 a 2019. Se recolectaron datos de todos los casos diagnosticados como neoplasias bucales, incluyendo diagnósticos demográficos, clínicos y microscópicos. Resultados: De los 8.952 diagnósticos histopatológicos realizados, 270 (84,64%) fueron CCE. La edad de los pacientes osciló entre 24 y 94 años (media 59,7±13,1 años), siendo más frecuente en la sexta (32,3%) y séptima (26%) décadas de la vida. Los hombres se vieron 2,5 veces más afectados que las mujeres. La mayoría de los pacientes eran de raza blanca (74,8%) y el consumo de tabaco y alcohol era frecuente. A lo largo de los años, ha habido un aumento en el número de casos diagnosticados, así como una expansión del área de cobertura del Servicio. Conclusión: El Servicio de Estomatología y Patología Bucal ha jugado un papel importante en la implementación y mejora del sistema de salud para la población local, especialmente en las Regiones del interior y áreas rurales