Skin cancer - what general dental practitioners should look for

Abstract

General dental practitioners (GDPs) are well-placed to identify incidental skin lesions when they see patients for routine dental care. Indeed, some patients with an undiagnosed skin malignancy may only see their GDP on a regular basis rather than their general medical practitioner (GMP). GDPs should be able to assess exposed areas of skin, particularly focusing on the head and neck, to identify any lesions of concern and liaise with the patient's GMP where appropriate. We provide an overview focused upon the clinical appearances of isolated benign and malignant lesions, tailored for GDPs.