181063 Tobacco Use and Oral Cancer Risk Among Nevada Adolescent Females Over a Six Year Period

Monday, October 27, 2008

Solomon Issac Cantwell, MS , School of Dental Medicine, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
Bryce S. Putnam , School of Dental Medicine, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
Rhea Antolin , School of Dental Medicine, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
Jong Hong , School of Dental Medicine, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
Jody Gill , School of Dental Medicine, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
Marcia M. Ditmyer, PhD, CHES , School of Dental Medicine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
Connie Mobley, PhD, RD , School of Dental Medicine, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
Christina A. Demopoulos, DDS , School of Dental Medicine, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
Objective: The purpose of this study was to support the hypothesis that the incidence of oral lesions over the past 6 years among Nevada high school females who use tobacco products would be higher than those who did not use tobacco products. Qualitative predictions were made concerning future oral cancer incidence in young women in Nevada based on the trends found in this study. Methods: A cross-sectional study with retrospective analysis was done on a population of 28996 female students, 13 to 18 years of age, attending public and private schools over a six year period (2001-2007) in Nevada. The prevalence of oral lesions in the cohort who did or did not use tobacco was determined and the yearly data was recorded for each of the six years studied. Results: 467 members of the cohort had oral lesions. 64.9% of those with lesions were tobacco users, 35.1% did not use tobacco. Yearly trend data indicates that after the first year, a stable trend in the number of oral lesions was reached. Conclusion: These data supported the hypothesis; oral lesions were more prevalent in the population that used tobacco than in those that did not use tobacco. This study sheds new light on current data concerning the trends and prevalence of oral lesions in teenage females. The information gained in this study will support public policy initiatives and oral health policy, based on empirical data concerning tobacco use. Study data was provided by The Fund for a Healthy Nevada Grant.

Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will understand the importance of screening oral lesions as a public health intervention. 2. Participants will be able to utilize the screening methodologies described to develop better oral cancer screenings as a public health intervention.

Keywords: Oral Health, Tobacco

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a student at an accredited dental medicine school and I was responsible primarily for the writing of the abstract.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.