Testing for Cancer
What is Minimally Invasive Dentistry? | Biomimetic Dentistry | No-Drill Cavity Repair | Dental Ozone | Testing for Cancer | Testing for Gum Disease
Oral Cancers
Oral cancers claim one life every hour in the United States. This fact has not changed in 40 years. There are typical risk factors associated with this disease like tobacco and alcohol use and being over 40. Unfortunately, 45% of patients diagnosed with oral cancers do not have any of the above risk factors.
New research has shown that 90% of oral cancers are linked to the HPV virus.
This means that having the oral HPV virus is a risk factor for oral cancers.
Today, we have the technology to test for the HPV virus in the oral environment with a saliva sample.
Having oral HPV does not mean you will get oral cancers, but you are at higher risk. Knowing that you have oral HPV means you can take precautions to help lower your risks. Early detection of oral cancers can improve your survival rate from only 50% to well over 90%.