Head, neck, and oral abnormalities in dentists participating in the health assessment program.

A total of 484 clinical abnormalities were observed in 7,041 dentists who participated in head, neck, and oral examinations during a 7-year period. Most of the dentists had been unaware of the lesions. Forty-nine of the 97 dentists who were informed that they had potentially serious lesions sought further diagnostic assistance. Of the suspected carcinomas, six were confirmed as basal cell carcinomas and one was confirmed as a mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the palate. The results of the examination substantiate the recommendation that dentists undergo, as well as administer to patients, periodic and thorough head, neck, and oral examinations.