Studies show that approximately 90 percent of Americans who have been tested have been exposed to the herpes virus, but not everyone gets fever blisters, and scientists are trying to figure out why. They do know that sometimes too much sunlight or illness may result in a break-out of fever blisters, which are contagious, especially when the fluid filled blisters are present. Siegel says dentists should be observant if they have a patient who is being treated for sun-damaged skin. The most common pre-malignant skin lesions show up on the prominent parts of the face, such as right above the eyebrows or on the lower lip. The sun shines down and so the lower lip is one of the most common sites for skin cancer.
Dentists also look for cancer in the mouth.
Dentists routinely look for oral cancer during regular check-ups. Siegel reminds people with dentures, who may not go to the dentist as often as they should, to visit the dentist at least once a year to make sure the inside of their mouth is healthy. The Baltimore campus of the University of Maryland is home to the dental school, graduate school, and schools of law, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and social work. It is the founding institution of the University System of Maryland.