For the next few months, the UNLV School of Dentistry will be traveling to public high schools throughout Nevada via a mobile health clinic as part of its "Crackdown on Cancer" program to screen students for oral health problems stemming from tobacco use.
The free health-screening program will kickoff in Southern Nevada on Oct. 15-18 at Green Valley High School. The screenings will begin at 7 a.m. each day.
"We think that this program will have a very positive impact in tobacco reduction for Nevada's teen-agers," said Steven Smith, dean of the dental school. "We will be screening for oral health problems that may already have developed as a result of smoking or chewing tobacco. We will also be educating the teen-agers about the dangers of tobacco use in hopes of heading off future health problems."
Smith said that studies show that approximately 29 percent of Nevada high school students smoke and that about 16 percent of male high school students in the state chew tobacco.
"Given those statistics, it is quite possible that we will see some negative impact of tobacco use among those we screen," Smith said. "Quite often, signs of tobacco use can be seen in the mouth within the first few years of use. Some of these students start smoking or chewing tobacco as early as the sixth or seventh grade, so they may already be showing signs of that use."
Licensed-professional dentists and hygienists - who have received additional training in tobacco-related oral pathologies - will perform the free screenings. The dentists will travel to the high schools via fully self-contained RV's that serve as mobile oral health clinics. There are two dental chairs in one of the units and three dental chairs in the other unit. The primarily visual screenings will be conducted using non-invasive dental techniques with equipment such as mirrors and intraoral cameras.
"All student screenings will be confidential," Smith said. "Each student screened will be given immediate results on their oral health and will receive a diagnostic report to share with his or her parents. In addition, the school health office will retain a copy of all diagnostic reports and will be asked to contact parents of students showing symptoms of critical health concerns to ensure that the parents are aware of the situation."
Students who show signs of problems stemming from tobacco use or who show dental health problems will be offered referrals to appropriate dental or medical professionals, Smith said, adding that students using tobacco will be given a referral to a no-cost cessation program.
The "Crackdown on Cancer" program is being funded by a $1.3 million grant from money that the state received from the tobacco industry settlement. "I think it is very appropriate that money from the tobacco industry settlement be used to reach teens since almost 90 percent of adult smokers start at or before the age of 18," Smith said.
According to Smith, early signs of oral cancer can often be seen years before the pathology turns malignant.
"Early diagnosis of tobacco-related oral cancer is important," Smith said. "Only one in five patients - 21.6 percent - diagnosed with mature oral cancer will live five years or more. Those who do usually endure disfiguring surgery and stringent treatments. But early diagnosis increases the five-year survival rate to four out of five or 81.3 percent. And, if diagnosed early, abstinence from tobacco may be all that is required for recovery."
For additional information about the program or about the UNLV School of Dentistry, call (702) 895-2451.
Following is the tentative screening schedule for Southern Nevada high schools:
Green Valley Oct. 15-18; Eldorado Oct. 19-25; Foothill Oct. 29-Nov. 1; Valley Nov. 2-9; Cheyenne Nov. 13-16; Laughlin Nov. 19; Western Nov. 26-Dec. 3; Bonanza Dec. 4-11; Durango Dec. 12-21; and Desert Pines Jan. 7-10.
