N
ews and
E
vents
officeaboutpast sexual activities, baseduponanoral finding?
But talkingwithpatientsaboutpersonal behaviours isan
importantpartofprovidingcomprehensiveoral care; things
like sexual habitsand sexual history, aswell as theother risk
factors for variousoral diseases like tobaccouse, alcohol use
andotherdruguse shouldbequeried.
Discussingachallengingor stress-inducing suspected
diagnosis requirespreparationby thedentist. It is important to
obtainbackground informationon thecondition, diagnostic
procedures, and theanticipated therapy; thiscanbeobtained
bycontacting thepractitioner towhom referral isplanned.
Haveaplanandpresent it aspositivelyanddirectlyaspossible.
Knowwhoyoumight refer toandwhy, and theprinciplesof
theanticipatednext steps indiagnosisor treatment.
For example, referral of early stagecancerhasapositiveeffect
onprognosis, and isoftenassociatedwith lesscomplexand
aggressive treatments. Theconversation shouldbeheld in
theproper environment, likeaprivate setting in thepractice
environment, notover thephoneor inawaiting room.
Mostof the timeadentistwill haveapositivemessageabout
earlydetection.Over theyears, thedental communityhas
donewell incommunicatingmessagesaboutpreventionand
earlydetection—extending thesemessages to include sexual
behaviour andoral andgeneral health ispartof abroadening
role fordentists inhealthcare.
a
Dr.DeborahSaunders ismedicaldirectoratHealthSciences
North (formerlySudburyRegionalHospital) in thedepartment
ofdentaloncology inSudbury,Ontario.For the2014Ontario
DentalAssociation (ODA)springmeeting,Dr.Saunders
coordinatedaseriesofpaneldiscussionsonSTIsand their
implications fordentalpractice.Thesymposiumaimed to
highlight the role thatdentistscanplay in theprevention,
diagnosisandmanagementofSTIsand inbridging thegap
betweendentistryandmedicine.
TheODAhaskindlymade3patient factsheetsavailable to
Canadiandentists:
•
•
•
