Time constraints, a lack of confidence, production-driven procedures taking precedence, or the belief a patient isn’t at risk, are reported reasons a comprehensive visual and tactile, extraoral, and intraoral evaluation isn’t performed or performed at all. Both dentists and dental hygienists are at varying stages of skill and confidence in this procedure, when a clinician is skilled and confident in performing a procedure, it is more likely to be completed comprehensively and efficiently.
Join oral cancer coach Susan Cotten BSDH, RDH, OMT, to gain more confidence in this critical, life-saving procedure. Susan will utilize her comprehensive screening videos in this course to demonstrate a thorough visual and tactile, extraoral, intraoral evaluation, and discuss provider and patient positioning for optimal visualization and techniques for palpation. Utilizing Susan’s training as a Myofunctional Therapist, attendees will learn Mallampati Score and Tonsil Grade and why these are important to evaluate and document as part of this procedure. Attendees will gain an appreciation of why a comprehensive evaluation is essential for all patients.

Participants will learn:

• • Recognize the components of a comprehensive, visual and tactile, extraoral, and intraoral evaluation
• • Identify Tonsil Grade and Mallampatti Score and why these are important for this evaluation
• • Name anatomical structures assessed in the oropharyngeal evaluation.

Presenters:

Susan Cotten BSDH, RDH, OMT

More courses with Susan Cotten

An international speaker, author, and oral cancer coach, Susan is the CEO of Oral Cancer Consulting. She created the “Cotten Method”, a dental oral cancer office system and screening method. Susan works with dental professionals and dental teams in DSOs and private practice, to increase their confidence in screening, reduce the risk of liability, and increase early detection.

Susan is a consultant and dental workgroup lead for the Alliance for HPV Free Colorado, oral cancer screening coordinator for Colorado Mission of Mercy, Regional Coordinator and RDH Advisory Board Member with the Oral Cancer Foundation. She is a 2018 Sunstar RDH Award of Distinction recipient, and 2014 Colgate Oral Health Advisory board member. Susan has worked in private practice, and public health in medical-dental integration as an integrative dental hygienist. She has organized countless free oral cancer screening events including the Denver Broncos Health and Wellness Expo and provided free head and neck screenings for the homeless with one of her mentors, a head and neck oncology surgeon. On a personal note, Susan enjoys watching college football, gardening, and visiting the beautiful Hawaiian islands.