HpV is poised to become the leading cause of oral cancer. The university of michigan found that out of 42 oral tumors two thirds were positive for HPV. A recent study at John Hopkins indicated that Hpv will over take tobacco and alcohol to become the number one cause of oral cancer within 10 years. In the past, the older person who used tobacco products accounted for most
cases, that has changed. Now oral cancer is on the rise in young people. Dr. Rosenquuist, who
headed the HPV study at the university of Malmo in Sweden, went as far as to say, that since the
oral mucosa is at the same cellular level as the cervix, people who have been exposed to high risk
types HPV should not engage in oral sex.
This may sound extreme, till you look at research from
the John Hopkins School of Public Health which determined, that having five or more oral sex
partners in ones’ life time could increase the chances of cancer by 250%. With statistics
showing one in four sexually active persons will be exposed to HPV, there is reason to be
concerned about oral cancer. Oral cancer kills more people than cervical cancer, survival rates
have not changed in the past 40 years, the reason is - late stage detection.
When you do visit your
dentist for your annual check up, request an oral cancer screen. If you have found any suspicious
spots, point them out. The dentist is with you for only a short time, so it is imperative that the
patient does self examinations. You must be proactive (no one knows your mouth better than
you), be aware of any changes, check your tongue, gums and cheeks for raised areas, red or white
spots or discolorations.
There are many new devices for checking the oral mucosa for
abnormalities. We do not endorse the use of such methods. The dental professionals should not
rely on the findings of these devices. The “gold standard” for detection is still a thorough visual
examination of the oral cavity performed by dental professional on an annual basis.
As time goes
on, your dentist may find areas that he needs to biopsy. If he recommends it, do it. Incisional
type biopsy is advised, in which your dentist will make a tiny incision obtaining a sample of
surface tissue and below. This procedure takes only a minute and will give the laboratory
everything it needs to make a proper diagnosis. We do not advise the brush type biopsy, in which
a small brush is used to obtain a sample of surface tissue. If you have an incisional biopsy, the
tissue will be sent out to the Pathology Lab for diagnosis. The laboratory must be
technologically up to date for an accurate diagnosis. The idea is to find and treat abnormalities
before they progress to cancer. Ask questions, make sure your dentist is familiar with HPV and
its relationship to oral cancer.
Contact us to locate a dentist experienced in diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer.