Title
It’s Time to Talk About Sex in Dentistry…HPV & It’s Link to Oral Cancer.
Description
The new millennium has brought about great advances in technology and innovation; and one of those advancements is the discovery of HPV’s link to head and neck cancer. Forty years ago, it was postulated a virus called human papillomavirus could cause cervical cancer; today, it is well established that this very heterogeneous virus causes a variety of cancers. HPV is now considered a human carcinogen.
Unlike other cancers of the mouth, HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers are more likely to occur among younger patients, white men, those without the traditional risk factors of tobacco and alcohol, and those with certain sexual histories. HPV’s public awareness has started to grow and has been featured in the mainstream press more frequently. As public awareness continues to grow, so will the knowledge base of the dental health care providers who treat them.
This course has a unique approach to discussing HPV from both a dental and medical perspective by being written and published as a peer-reviewed continuing education course by an RN and an RDH. HPV disease trends, statistics, morphology, transmission, vaccination, and cancer risks will be discussed. Oral serum testing for dental professionals will be presented as well as enhanced oral cancer screenings devices.
Educational Objectives
At the conclusion of this course, the oral health care provider will be able to:
Review oral cancer screening techniques and the importance of extra and intraoral screening.
Present HPV morphology, typing and the different systemic infections HPV types can cause in the human body.
Review statistics and transmission of HPV and understand the latest research trends associated with HPV.
Incorporate enhanced oral screen technology, oral serum testing, and educate patients on the benefits of early vaccination.