Abstract
Oral cancer is among the ten most common cancers world-wide, and is especially seen in disadvantaged elderly males. Members of the dental profession have a duty to detect both potentially malignant and malignant oral lesions. Early detection and prompt treatment offer the best hope to the patient with oral cancer, providing the best chance of a cure. As patient awareness regarding the danger of oral cancer increases, the demand for oral cancer ‘screening’ is also expected to increase significantly.