Dental patients end up having major head and neck surgery because of late presentation - Fiji Dental Association

Fiji Dental Association says more awareness needs to be created in Fiji regarding oral cancer adding early detection is possible however patients need to come to dentists for screening.

They say patients are presenting very late for treatment and as a result, they usually end up having major head and neck surgery.

Fiji Dental Association will be holding a Symposium on Early Detection of Oral Cancer today.

A panel discussion aims to identify the current status of oral cancer in Fiji while stressing on the importance of early detection of oral cancer which can improve the survival rate.

Presenters include Senior academic and clinician from Sri Lanka Professor Jayantha Weerasinghe and Senior Dental Officer practising Oral Surgery in the Lautoka Hospital, Dr Inosi Salababa, Senior Dental Officer practising Oral Surgery at the CWM hospital, Dr Sailasa Luvunakoro and Dr Monesha Singh who currently works as a dental officer trained in Oral Surgery at the CWM Hospital.

They will share findings from Sri Lanka and other countries and discuss their related postgraduate training experience in Fiji.

The Symposium on Early Detection of Oral Cancer will be held at the Grand Pacific Hotel from 8.30 am and the panel discussion will start from 2.30 pm.