Detection of premalignant oral lesions: a 10 year retrospective study in Alberta.

A comprehensive review of all oral premalignant lesions and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) diagnosed and biopsied by the oral pathology diagnostic service at the University of Alberta over two sequential five-year periods (1984-1988 and 1989-1993) was undertaken. There was a disproportionate increase in the number of premalignant biopsies conducted in 1989-93 relative to the number of SCC biopsies, suggesting an improvement in the detection of oral pre-malignancy by dentists.