Karcinom usne šupljine spada među deset karcinoma s najnepovoljnijom prognozom. Uzrok visoke smrtnosti jest činjenica da se više od polovice slučajeva otkrije u uznapredovalom stadiju. Karcinom usne šupljine u ranim stadijima ne izaziva nikakve tegobe a simptomi počinju biti izraženi tek u uznapredovalom stadiju bolesti. Karcinom usne šupljine može se otkriti u najranijem stadiju jednostavnim pregledom oralne sluznice. Radi se o lokalizacijama koje su dostupne pregledu golim okom i vidljive tijekom uobičajenog stomatološkog pregleda. Sam pregled je neinvazivan, traje 1-1.5 minutu, ne zahtijeva nikakvu posebnu opremu i ne izaziva nelagodu pacijentu. Osim boljeg poznavanja fi zioloških i patoloških karakteristika oralne sluznice, stomatolog je u idealnoj poziciji da svakodnevno obavlja preglede za rano otkrivanje karcinoma usne šupljine, budući da po prirodi svog posla redovito gleda u usta pacijentima. U Hrvatskoj se godišnje na lokalizacijama dostupnim stomatološkom pregledu dijagnosticira između 300 i 400 novih slučajeva karcinoma. Budući da karcinom usne šupljine u ranom stadiju ne uzrokuje simptome, stomatologe valja senzibilizirati/motivirati da svim pacijentima uz zube redovito pregledaju i oralnu sluznicu, bez obzira imaju li tegobe ili nemaju. ; Oral cancer is one of the ten cancers with the worst prognosis. Higher mortality rate is due to the fact that the majority of cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Early stage of the disease causes no discomfort and symptoms start to present in later stages. Oral cancer can be detected in its earliest stage by simple examination of oral mucosa. Oral mucosa can be easily examined during routine dental examination. The examination itself is noninvasive, takes no more than one minute, does not require any special equipment, and poses no discomfort to the patient. Apart rom better knowledge about the physiological and pathological characteristics of oral mucosa, dentist is in an ideal position to perform oral mucosa examinations every day, since he/she regularly sees the patient oral cavity. In Croatia, between 300 and 400 new cases of oral carcinoma per year are diagnosed at the sites that are visible during routine dental examination. Since oral cancer in its early stage does not cause any symptoms, dentists should be sensitized/motivated to perform mucosal as well as dental examinations in all patients irrespective of the patient’s lack of complaint.