Resident Series: Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders (OPMDs) Review (with Dr. Ben Hechler)

Everyday Oral Surgery

Joining us on the show again today, is Dr. Benjamin Hechler, an oral and maxilofacial surgeon practicing in North Carolina. He is here today to take us through a thorough review of OPMDs, Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders. We dive into what OPMDs are, the risk factors associated with developing them, and those risk factors associated with the progression of OPMDs to cancer. We have a lengthy discussion on the terminology associated with OPMDs and our guest talks us through the continuum of higher-grade to lower-grade/mild, moderate, and severe dysplasia. With his experience in the field, Dr. Hechler is phenomenal at presenting a diverse set of topics, and today’s review of OPMDs is just one of them. If you want to find out more about how he navigates different processes surrounding OPMDs and how clinicians can help minimize the risk of their progression, then don’t miss out on this episode of Everyday Oral Surgery!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Dr. Hechler breaks down the topic of today’s episode: What are OPMDs?
• The reason behind the list of OPMDs.
• Why they changed the name from OPMLs (lesions) to OPMDs (disorders).
• Dr. Hechler goes over some of the risk factors for developing OPMDs.
• A quick tangent on tobacco and research findings on its role in developing OPMDs or cancer.
• Risk factors associated with the progression of OPMDs to cancer.
• We discuss different terminology often associated with OPMDs; lichenoid mucositis and oral lichen planus, for example.
• More about oral lichen planus and its propensity to develop into cancer.
• Dr. Hechler talks to us about [defining] higher-grade to lower-grade/ mild, moderate, and severe dysplasia.
• Buccal mucosa ulcers and how he navigates the process of biopsying these types of lesions.
• How to go about excising high-grade dysplasia; tips and recommendations.
• Scalpel, blade, or electrocautery; what to use when, according to Dr. Hechler.
• What clinicians can do to help patients minimize the risk of OPMDs progression.
• His thoughts on taking COX inhibitors.
• Why he recommends the Mediterranean diet.
• How to manage the diagnoses of a progression to PVL.
• Follow-ups and recommendations regarding them for monitoring patients.
• How Dr. Hechler manages patients leaning more on the oral medicine/ therapeutic side of things.
• Pro-parenting tip for the day from Dr. Hechler.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Ben Hechler on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-hechler/

‘Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders’ — https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.825266/full

Oral Oncology Journal — https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/oral-oncology

Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/

Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/

Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/

Dr. Grant Stucki Email — [e-mail]

Dr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059

KLS Martin promo code EOSExo22 — https://www.klsmartin.com/