The Iowa Central Dental Hygiene Program and UnityPoint Health – Norma Schmoker Cancer Center teamed up Thursday to offer free Oral, Head and Neck Cancer screenings to the community.
Held in the campus dental hygiene clinic, the screenings were conducted by volunteer medical and dental professionals including local dentists Dr. Matt Maggio, Dr. Erika Bowman and Dr. Thaylan Bowman; Dermatologist Dr. Carey Bligard, Oncology Physician Assistant Hannah Sheridan, ENT nurse practitioner Amber Troshynski, Webster County I-SMILE Coordinator Amber Cooke, Iowa Central Dental Hygiene faculty and Registered Dental Hygienists Arianna Broderick and Amber Elbert and first- and second-year dental hygiene students.
Magley Orellana, a second-year dental hygiene student, spent her time practicing her skills as she performed intraoral and extraoral screenings on patients.
“We’re checking the patients over on the outside of the face and neck to start with, looking for anything abnormal and to find out if they have noticed anything or any changes and then check in the mouth for anything out of the ordinary,” said Orellana. “It is something we do every day in our clinics, the first thing we do when they’re in our chairs and we want to make sure that if they need a referral, they get one.”
First year student Dani Lobato saw the event as a learning opportunity as she observed second-year students and the practitioners perform the exams.
“It’s been interesting watching their precision and using the medical terminology,” said Lobato.
Started as a service/outreach project by a dental hygiene student in 2014, the screening clinic has become an annual event held each April in conjunction with Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month.
According to the Iowa Cancer Registry, Iowa currently ranks second highest in the country for the rate of new cases of oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers. In 2024, it’s estimated 620 Iowans will be diagnosed with oral, head and neck cancers.
The event has identified and referred patients on to other providers for a variety of conditions from swollen discolored tonsils to thyroid issues, Pat Grossnickle, nurse manager at the Norma Schmoker Cancer Center said.
“It (screening clinic) is something our providers were on board with because it is a valuable, worthwhile event,” said Grossnickle. “It is free and non-invasive and a great way to spread awareness of oral, head and neck cancer.”
This year’s clinic referred two individuals on for further evaluation by a physician.
“Early detection is key,” said Renee Piper, Dental Hygiene Program director.
