The incidence of oral cancer in the UK is rising, with approximately 7,300 new cases diagnosed in 2012. The number of oral cancer cases in the UK has risen by more than a quarter in the last decade. Mouth cancer is within the ten most common cancers encountered among men in the UK. Primary care practitioners, both in a dental and medical setting, have a role in the early diagnosis of oral malignancy, and in providing patients with information regarding risk factors such as smoking, alcohol and betel quid use. The purpose of this paper is to present the epidemiology and risk factors related to oral cancer and particularly review the literature regarding the level of awareness and practice in primary care as recorded in relevant research.
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