It has been proven that HPV infection increases risk for various cancers, including oral cancer. Thanks to a new study we now know that 7% of American adults and teenagers have the HPV virus in their mouths.
This study may help us understand why the rates of one type of head and neck cancer, oropharyngea cancer, increased over 200% between 1988 and 2004. The study also showed that HPV is not transmitted through casual contact or kissing. The research was published online by the Journal of the American Medical Association.
HPV has been known as the cause of cervical cancer but can cause other types of cancer as well. The infection is extremely common – and it usually produces no symptoms and clears up on its own. Screening for oral cancers is more important today than ever before for adults of all ages.
In years past the typical oral cancer patient was an older man who smoked heavily and drank alcohol. Today the fastest rise in cases is appearing in young adults. Don’t forget to include an oral cancer screening in your next visit and talk to us about DNA testing to assess your risk for head and neck cancers.
For more information about oral cancer screening and to schedule your appointment please contact the office of Dr. Bernard Greenbaum in Bethesda, MD at 301-530-3600.
Yet another link between your oral health and your overall health, in this case the health of your bones. A study from Sweden says that it is possible to use dental X-rays to predict which patients may be at risk of bone fracture. The research was published in the journal Nature Reviews Endocrinology and showed that sparse bone structure in the lower jaw is an indicator that the individual is at greater risk for bone fractures in the future.
The study used data from the Prospective Population Study of Women in Gothenburg that has been running for over 40 years. The researchers believe that although the study data was about women, the same link will apply to men. The study also showed that the older the person, the stronger the link between the sparse bone structure in the jaw and bone fractures. Hopefully this research will translate into guidelines that can be used in dental offices since more people get regular dental x-rays than seek out bone density testing or other types of x-rays. A dentist could share x-ray data with physicians to help monitor those most at risk of fracture.
Dental x-rays are used for more than finding hidden cavities. Dentists use the films to check on the health of the jaw bone, detect oral cancers and infections so they are an important part of your dental examination. Digital x-rays (radiographs) have reduced the amount of radiation drastically and the process is much more comfortable for the patient. Using a small sensor we are now able to instantly view digital images and share our findings with our patients.
Please contact your Bethesda, MD area cosmetic dentist Dr. Bernard Greenbaum at 301-530-3600 today to schedule your next appointment.
As you may or may not know, April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. Since your first concern is for your patient’s health, I am happy to inform you that our Bethesda dental office is now performing an Oral DNA Salivary Diagnostic test for the presence of HPV. The test is called OraRisk HPV. The Human Papilloma Virus in now known to be an independent risk factor for oral and throat cancers. This easy-to-use screening tool can identify the types of oral HPV present as well as the associated risk profile for each type detected. This enables the clinician to establish the increased risk for oral cancer and determine appropriate referral and monitoring conditions.
The test begins with a simple 30 second swish of saline solution and collection, which is sent over night to a DNA lab and the results are available within one week. There are over 120 strains of HPV and this test will identify 99 strains of oral HPV present, as well as the associated risk profile for each type detected. It will list the HPV types as high, low or unknown risk based on the virus’s association with malignant changes in HPV-infected cells. There are about 15 strains within the high risk category. As you know, Gardasil only protects against strains 6, 11, 16 and 18. HPV 16 translates in the cervix to cervical cancer and in the oral cavitry to oral cancer. It is not known if Gardasil protects against oral cancer.
This information can be of great benefit to the patient if they have a high risk strain as we can be more vigilant for them, just as you are when there is an abnormal pap smear. This pre-lesion assessment helps the patient to be more aware and educated because we are diagnosing oral cancer at an alarming rate in non-traditional risk groups. For example, the typical oral cancer patient used to be an older man who drinks or smokes too much. Now we are diagnosing patients who are non-smokers or non-drinkers in a much younger demographic, the 18-40 year olds.
Dr. Greenbaum’s Bethesda, MD office now performing two important new services:
First are the Oral DNA salivary diagnostic testsThere are two tests for periodontal disease, one to determine if you are genetically disposed to the disease and the second to tell you exactly which bacteria are in your mouth and if a specific antibiotic might be able to target them in conjunction with deep cleanings. Chronic periodontal disease has been linked to an increase risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some forms of cancer.
The Human Papilloma Virus in now known to be an independent risk factor for oral and throat cancers. This easy-to-use screening tool can identify the types of oral HPV present as well as the associated risk profile for each type detected. This enables the clinician to establish the increased risk for oral cancer and determine appropriate referral and monitoring conditions.
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Secondly, our office is now able to collect dental stem cells for the quickly evolving field of “regenerative medicine”. In 2000, stem cells were discovered in teeth by NIH researchers. These “dental stem cells” are a convenient and potent source of stem cells with benefits complementary to the stem cells found in umbilical cord blood and with the aim of improved treatment or therapies for conditions such as:
Tooth loss and periodontal disease
Skeletal bone loss/fractures
Muscular dystrophy
Parkinson’s disease
Spinal cord injury
Type 1 diabetes
Mycardial Infarction (heart attack)
Collection involves determining with your dentist the best possible time to collect a soon-to-be lost baby tooth and saving it with a Store-A Tooth transport kit which is sent overnight to Provia Labs. This lab follows the strictest standards for quality in stem cell and human tissue banking. The stem cells are collected from the tooth and are kept frozen at very cold temperatures until the day they might be needed.Â
We are happy to be able to provide our patients with these two very important and cutting-edge therapies.
