Activity report of oral cancer screening by the Edogawa-ward Dental Association, Tokyo（Review Article）

Abstract

The Edogawa-ward Dental Association has carried out group checkups for oral cancer since 2011 under the slogan “Have a checkup while you’re healthy.” In 2013, Japan’s first “Oral Cancer Checkup Navigation System” was jointly established with Tokyo Dental College. The Association considered the achievements of this checkup and the navigation system. Persons wishing to receive a group checkup applied by directly calling the Association. For individual checkups, residents of Edogawa ward aged 40 years or older were sent a checkup voucher and the checkup was performed at cooperating medical offices. As a result, 886 persons received a group checkup from 2011 to 2015, and two cases of oral cancer (0.23%) were discovered. Since 2015, 1,416 persons received individual checkups and two cases of oral cancer (0.14%) were discovered.
Edogawa ward obtained a higher rate of detecting oral cancer than other areas (0.1%) and the checkup is considered to have contributed to early detection. Furthermore, Tokyo Dental College functions as a control center in the navigation system, answering questions from general dental clinics regarding checkups. By using this system, one can get support for more detailed examinations and referrals to higher medical institutions, and hear opinions of specialists from the chair side. The system should be expanded throughout Japan and standardized checkup procedures should be established.