Table 3.

Practitioners to whom patients with oral lesions suspicious for premalignancy or malignancy were generally referred (n=1069).

	n (%)
Oral / Maxillofacial Surgeon	932 (87.2)
Oral Pathologist	58 (5.4)
Ear Nose Throat Specialist	27 (2.5)
Oral Medicine Specialist	26 (2.4)
Periodontist (Other)	9 (0.8)
Head & Neck Surgeon	3 (0.3)
Depends on lesion (OMF, ENT or Oral Pathologist)	3 (0.3)
Dermatologist	2 (0.2)
Primary Care Physician	2 (0.2)
Cancer hospital, Oral Oncologist	2 (0.2)
Five GDs reported that they did not refer patients with oral lesions:
Do not refer patients with oral lesions	2 (0.2)
Suspicious for Malignancy / Premalignancy
Do not refer patients with oral lesions;	3 (0.3)
patients are referred to me
Total	1,069 (100)

Note: Two GDs who responded to the type of practitioner question did not respond to questions regarding personally performing biopsies and referrals.