A giant leap forward

The Scheme calls for every dental practice in the UK to be carrying out a thorough head and neck examination as part of regular check-ups.  The scheme is a ‘Two minutes to save a life’ screening protocol, which is a 10-point checklist that every dentist should be able to include in their routine examinations in order to increase early detection rates and save lives.

The scheme recognises dental practices that actively prove they carry out thorough head and neck cancer screenings and operate a clearly documented referral pathway with a local specialist department. It also rewards dentists and dental teams for their efforts in raising awareness of mouth cancer.

Awareness is integral to achieving early detection of head and neck cancers, thus saving lives.  It will accredit dental practices that meet certain criteria and routinely participate in oral cancer screening.  Full membership includes access to a dedicated section of the charity website and free one  hour CPD element as well as a wealth of professional development and training modules suitable for all members of the practice team to ensure regular screening benefits practice patients.