Building Confidence and Competencies in Oral Cancer Screening for Dental Nurses

About This Course

Learn how dental nurses can help detect oral cancer early with this comprehensive course. Covering legal, ethical, and communication considerations, as well as examination techniques and professional development.

Why Take This Course?

This course addresses a common challenge that UK dental professionals face, which is the early detection of oral cancer. Oral cancer is a serious disease that can have devastating effects if not detected and treated early enough. Dental professionals play an important role in detecting oral cancer, as they are often the first to notice any abnormalities in the mouth during routine dental check-ups. This course provides dental nurses with the knowledge and skills they need to conduct an oral cancer examination, communicate effectively with patients, and manage patients who may have oral cancer. It also covers legal and ethical considerations, oral cancer types and characteristics, risk factors and symptoms of oral cancer, and professional development for enhancing competencies and promoting awareness.

This course on oral cancer detection is beneficial for dental nurses as it covers various aspects such as risk factors and symptoms, examination techniques, patient communication, and legal and ethical considerations. It also includes case studies and exercises to reinforce learning and enhance competencies. Early detection of oral cancer can greatly increase the chances of successful treatment, making this course a valuable addition to a dental nurse’s skill set.

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How This Course Supports GDC Enhanced Dental CPD

“Dental professionals have a duty to keep their knowledge and skills up to date. A primary qualification is only the first step in their education and development which should last throughout their professional life” General Dental Council

Learning Objectives	Anticipated Outcomes
1: By the end of this course, learners will be able to understand the causes, types, symptoms, and risk factors associated with Temporomandibular Disorders (TMDs).	1: Upon completion of the course, participants are expected to recognize and appropriately respond to common and complex dental emergencies.
2: Upon completion, learners will have the capacity to use various diagnostic techniques and assessment tools for the accurate diagnosis of TMDs.	2: As a result of this course, learners will likely contribute to increased patient safety outcomes in dental settings due to their enhanced knowledge and skills in dental emergency management.
3: Participants will demonstrate their ability to apply suitable non-surgical and surgical treatment options for managing TMDs effectively.	3: The course should lead to an increased readiness and confidence among dental professionals to handle a wide range of dental emergencies effectively and calmly.
4: By the final session, learners will have mastered long-term management strategies for TMDs.	4: In the wider context, the course aims to contribute to better overall oral health in the community by ensuring dental professionals are well-equipped to manage emergency situations.
5: At the course’s conclusion, attendees will have developed the competency to guide and counsel patients effectively for managing their TMD conditions.	5: Following the course, the expectation is that attendees will implement and advocate for effective emergency protocols in their practices, fostering a culture of safety and preparedness.

Regulatory Standards

GDC	CQC
✅ A – Effective Communication ✅ B – Effective Management ✅ C – Maintenance in Field of Practice ✅ D – Maintenance in Patient Confidence	✅ Caring ✅ Effective ✅ Leadership ✅ Responsive ✅ Safe

🕐 90 minutes of Enhanced Dental CPD

Course Description

This course covers the role of dental nurses in oral cancer detection, an overview of oral cancer, the importance of early detection, legal and ethical considerations, oral cancer types and characteristics, risk factors and symptoms of oral cancer, techniques for conducting an oral cancer examination, patient communication and management, and professional development for enhancing competencies and promoting awareness. The course includes case studies and exercises to reinforce learning.

Course Outline

Section 1

Section 1 of the course covers the role of dental nurses in oral cancer detection, an overview of oral cancer, legal and ethical considerations in oral cancer screening, and case studies on the impact of early detection.

Section 2

Section 2 of the course covers in-depth knowledge of oral cancers, including their types, characteristics, potential risk factors, and common symptoms. The section also provides techniques for conducting effective oral cancer examinations, patient communication and management, and enhancing professional development.

Section 3

Section 3 of the course focuses on conducting an oral cancer examination, including taking a thorough patient history, using techniques for effective intraoral and extraoral examination, identifying suspicious lesions, and documenting and reporting findings. The section also includes a role-play exercise to practice conducting an oral cancer examination.

Section 4

Section 4 of the course covers effective patient communication and management in regards to oral cancer, including techniques for educating patients, handling their anxiety and queries, discussing potential findings and next steps, and scenario-based exercises on patient management.

Section 5

Section 5 of the course covers enhancing professional development in oral cancer screening, including building competencies and confidence, staying updated on research, protocols for referrals, and promoting awareness. The section also includes a recap of key learnings and review of case studies.

Course Reviews

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Very informative course on oral cancer detection. Learned about risk factors and symptoms and how to conduct an oral cancer examination.

✅ Met Course Objectives

✅ Met Course Outcomes

✅ Would Recommend

✅ Had Positive Impact

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Great insights on the legal and ethical considerations surrounding oral cancer detection. Appreciated the exercises and case studies to reinforce learning.

✅ Met Course Objectives

✅ Met Course Outcomes

✅ Would Recommend

✅ Had Positive Impact

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thorough course on the role of dental nurses in oral cancer detection. The section on patient communication and management was especially helpful.

✅ Met Course Objectives

✅ Met Course Outcomes

✅ Would Recommend

✅ Had Positive Impact

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