CV
Graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Dentistry in 2000. In the same year, she was accepted into the doctoral program at Istanbul University Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases and Surgery. In 2006, she presented her thesis titled 'Investigation of L-myc Gene Polymorphism in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients'. She has authored more than 70 articles in scientific journals and has received 2 science awards from international scientific organizations. Currently, she continues her studies at Istanbul University, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. In addition to serving as a board member of AÇBİD and ISOO (International Society of Oral Oncology), she holds the position of Vice Dean at Istanbul University Faculty of Dentistry.
Exploring Oral Premalignant Lesions With Cases: When And Where To Perform Biopsy?
Oral cancer ranks as the 18th most common cancer affecting the entire body. Early diagnosis of oral cancers, their metastatic nature, and particularly low 5-year survival rates in advanced-stage cancers are of special importance. Since these lesions are often derived from oral mucosa, which is within the scope of dental practitioners' daily practices, it highlights the role of dentists in diagnosis. Although our basic knowledge emphasizes the necessity of taking biopsies for any lesion that does not heal for more than 2 weeks, knowing when and how to biopsy a lesion that raises suspicion of cancer is equally important. The purpose of this presentation is to provide information about the characteristics of suspicious lesions and to convey knowledge about the correct timing and method for sampling these lesions.
Learning Objectives
- To describe the clinical characteristic features of oral cancers
- To understand the timing of biopsies in lesions suspected of oral cancer
- To learn how to perform a biopsy on lesions suspected of oral cancer
Our increasingly growing patient population; Head and neck cancer patients: Where are we as dentists?
Dental considerations in head and neck cancer patients
Head and neck cancer is accounting nearly 7,9% of all body cancers worldwide. Treatments include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and combinations thereof. Therapies aimed at improving survival not only during treatment but also in the long term afterward often bring about significant oral complications. The evaluation of patients should be conducted in three stages: before cancer treatment, during treatment, and in the long-term after treatment. When patients are referred to the dentist before cancer treatment, the expectation of the oncology treatment team is to eliminate any oral and dental problems that may necessitate a pause in treatment. The dentist is expected to urgently assess and manage acute oral and dental problems. Complications arising during treatment are often more specialized issues: encounter acute phase complications such as mucositis and infection. In the long term, head and neck cancer patients, especially those undergoing radiotherapy, present with complaints such as trismus, dry mouth, osteoradionecrosis, and dental caries problems. The necessary treatment and measures for all of these complaints constitute the main topic of this discussion.
Learning Objectives
- Recognize the oral and dental needs of head and neck cancer patients in all terms of referrence
- Conduct a proper diagnostic workup for oral and dental needs
- Consult and refer the patient to the relevant specialist for appropriate management
Role of Dentists in Oral Cancers
Dentist and Oral Cancers
Dentists play various roles in the diagnosis, treatment, and post-treatment survival of oral cancers. While their involvement in oral and dental rehabilitation is significant, their role in early cancer diagnosis is paramount. Biopsy remains the unequivocal gold standard as the sole definitive diagnostic tool for oral cancers. However, auxiliary diagnostic methods, such as various stains and fluorescence, aim to support physicians in reaching a diagnosis. Identifying patients at risk, conducting regular oral cancer screening examinations, minimizing exposure to potential risk factors, and most importantly, having a thorough understanding of the tissues they work with to detect pathology are among the dentist's most critical responsibilities.
Learning Objectives
- Assesment of oral soft tissues with respect the early detection of oral cancers and premalignant lesions
- Recognize the diagnostic methods of oral cancer and suspicious lesions
- Assesment of risk factors of oral cancers in high risk patient groups