The Academy of General Dentistry, or AGD, was founded in 1952 to represent the interests and needs of general dentists. The AGD has over 40,000 members, to whom it offers educational and professional resources and support, as well as opportunities to connect and exchange ideas and experiences. The academy’s mission is to advance the general dentistry practice and empower general dentists to deliver oral health education and the best dental care possible to the public. In addition, the academy has a philanthropic arm, the AGD Foundation, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022. The foundation is dedicated to improving the public's oral health, supporting the AGD's efforts, and promoting oral and oropharyngeal cancer awareness.
Oral and oropharyngeal cancers are types of cancer that affect the mouth and throat, respectively. Both cancers begin when cells start growing out of control - typically, either the squamous cells, the glands in the lining of the mouth and throat, or the lymphoid tissue existing in the tonsils and at the base of the tongue. Nearly all oral and oropharyngeal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, which occur in the flat and thin squamous cells that form the lining of the throat and mouth. Most of the squamous cell cancers of the oropharynx result from human papillomavirus or other high-risk infections.
The death rate of these types of cancers is high because they are often detected at a late or advanced stage - however, the earlier the stage at diagnosis, the higher the rates of survival after treatment. General dentists are often those who diagnose oral and oropharyngeal cancers. Accordingly, the AGD Foundation aims to provide diagnostic training and risk factor education for general dentists and empower them as the first line of defense against these cancers. General dentists can help detect the condition in its early stages during routine dental visits, therefore increasing the oral cancer survival rate.
In partnership with AGD constituents, corporations, and organizations, the AGD Foundation has numerous programs that help fulfill its goals. For instance, at the annual AGD Scientific Session, the foundation offers free oral cancer screenings, risk factor prevention education resources, and public service announcements to attendees. During the AGD Scientific Session, the foundation also provides an oral cancer continuing education course, where attendees learn techniques to detect oral cancers and practice those techniques while examining actual patients.
The AGD Foundation has a grant program that supports its mission by funding initiatives that promote oral cancer education, awareness, and screening. Anyone can donate to the foundation and help it increase its impact on dentists and patients through its oral cancer screening and awareness programs. Besides increasing financial grants, the AGD Foundation also uses donations to continue offering free cancer screenings across the US and to create and disseminate free oral and oropharyngeal cancer educational resources among physicians, dentists, patients, schools, and public health departments.
Dental health professionals can also help the AGD Foundation with its mission by volunteering during free oral cancer screenings. Generally, these screenings are held during AGD Foundation oral cancer screening events, which feature several stations to screen patients. Besides receiving an oral cancer screening, the patients learn about oral hygiene practices and their importance, as well as the harmful effects of tobacco use and the relationship between oral health and overall health.
Oral and oropharyngeal cancers are types of cancer that affect the mouth and throat, respectively. Both cancers begin when cells start growing out of control - typically, either the squamous cells, the glands in the lining of the mouth and throat, or the lymphoid tissue existing in the tonsils and at the base of the tongue. Nearly all oral and oropharyngeal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, which occur in the flat and thin squamous cells that form the lining of the throat and mouth. Most of the squamous cell cancers of the oropharynx result from human papillomavirus or other high-risk infections.
The death rate of these types of cancers is high because they are often detected at a late or advanced stage - however, the earlier the stage at diagnosis, the higher the rates of survival after treatment. General dentists are often those who diagnose oral and oropharyngeal cancers. Accordingly, the AGD Foundation aims to provide diagnostic training and risk factor education for general dentists and empower them as the first line of defense against these cancers. General dentists can help detect the condition in its early stages during routine dental visits, therefore increasing the oral cancer survival rate.
In partnership with AGD constituents, corporations, and organizations, the AGD Foundation has numerous programs that help fulfill its goals. For instance, at the annual AGD Scientific Session, the foundation offers free oral cancer screenings, risk factor prevention education resources, and public service announcements to attendees. During the AGD Scientific Session, the foundation also provides an oral cancer continuing education course, where attendees learn techniques to detect oral cancers and practice those techniques while examining actual patients.
The AGD Foundation has a grant program that supports its mission by funding initiatives that promote oral cancer education, awareness, and screening. Anyone can donate to the foundation and help it increase its impact on dentists and patients through its oral cancer screening and awareness programs. Besides increasing financial grants, the AGD Foundation also uses donations to continue offering free cancer screenings across the US and to create and disseminate free oral and oropharyngeal cancer educational resources among physicians, dentists, patients, schools, and public health departments.
Dental health professionals can also help the AGD Foundation with its mission by volunteering during free oral cancer screenings. Generally, these screenings are held during AGD Foundation oral cancer screening events, which feature several stations to screen patients. Besides receiving an oral cancer screening, the patients learn about oral hygiene practices and their importance, as well as the harmful effects of tobacco use and the relationship between oral health and overall health.
