April marks Oral Cancer Awareness Month, and this year, a powerful new campaign is calling attention to a critical gap in dental care—screening dental hygienists, dentists, and everyone in the dental team.
Susan Cotten, BSDH, RDH, founder of Oral Cancer Free™ and developer of The Cotten Method™ of Screening, is launching the Screen the Screener™ campaign to elevate the standard of care across dentistry.
While dental professionals perform oral cancer screenings on patients, many do not receive comprehensive screenings themselves. Due to busy schedules and time constraints, their care is often rushed, incomplete, or delayed.
“This campaign is about accountability,” says Cotten. “We cannot advocate for early detection if we are not prioritizing it within our own teams.”
The Screen the Screener™ initiative encourages dental practices nationwide to commit to three key actions during April:
- Perform comprehensive oral cancer screenings on every patient.
- Schedule dedicated screenings for every team member.
- Share their participation publicly to raise awareness.
Built on The Cotten Method™ of Screening, a structured and science-based approach, the campaign emphasizes consistency, thoroughness, and early detection as the standard of care.
Dental organizations, industry partners, and practices are invited to participate by promoting the campaign, supporting team screenings, and amplifying awareness through social media using #ScreenTheScreener.
“This is more than a campaign,” Cotten adds. “It’s a shift in mindset. Early detection starts with us—but it must include us.”
For more information, partnership opportunities, or to join the movement, contact Susan Cotten, BSDH, RDH, at [email protected] or oralcancerconsulting.com.
