Oral cancer: the approach of the dentists in the Family Health Strategy in Rio Grande do Norte
Oral Cancer, Primary Care
Considered a public health problem, malignant neoplasms are already the second leading cause of mortality in Brazil. Among the numerous types of cancer, there is the oral or oral cancer group, which consists of all malignancies that have their location in the regions that make up the mouth: tongue, gingiva, lips, jugal mucosa, buccal floor and hard palate. Although Brazil holds 19% of the world's dentists, studies indicate that the diagnosis is still made late, thus leading to malignant neoplasms as the second cause of mortality in Rio Grande do Norte, and more specifically, mouth cancer as the eighth place in the most lethal cancers ranking. Thus, it is necessary to know how the dental surgeon approaches this topic in basic care and also to identify the professional's knowledge about oral cancer, and perhaps to propose strategies for improvement and planning in the primary health care context.