Detecting HPV with a Dental Visit

HPV, or Human Papilloma Virus, is a common virus that has over 150 variations, of which almost one third are transmitted sexually. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that almost 80 million Americans are currently infected with HPV, making it the most common sexually transmitted infection in the country. It is important for patients and healthcare providers alike to know the effects of HPV and how they impact the body’s systems including the inside of the mouth.

How is HPV Contracted?

The majority of individuals who have contracted HPV do not show any symptoms and can unknowingly pass the virus to their sexual partners. For men, the symptoms of HPV can include genital warts that can appear as lesions on the throat, mouth, soft palate, penis, scrotum, or anus. These warts are not always obvious to patients, which makes identifying them a challenge, not to mention this condition can be passed to others without any visible symptoms.

Can Oral Screenings Help with HPV Prevention?

While there is currently no STI test that is approved to test for HPV in men, an oral screening is one way that health professionals can help with disease detection as well as preventing its transmission. The screening process takes very little time – during each dental visit, the dentist should perform an oral cancer screening by looking for abnormalities in the mouth. In addition to looking for these abnormalities, they should also be looking for lesions that could be associated with HPV.

What Other Oral Conditions Could Be Related to HPV?

Having HPV does not mean patients have or will develop cancer, but having this condition can assist the body in performing cellular changes that may lead to the development of cancer. For example, anal and penial cancers are linked to HPV. Healthcare professionals also have the ability to identify oropharyngeal and throat cancers, which can also be caused by the presence of HPV if it is not treated. These types of cancers, however, have a much more favorable diagnosis when they are detected in the earlier stages of development.

Identifying symptoms of HPV during an oral examination may be the key to detecting the condition early and administering the proper treatment. With the referrals provided by dental professionals to medical doctors, dermatologists, and oral surgeons, it is possible for patients to receive earlier and less complex treatment options that can help reduce further complications.

If you have any oral health concerns or are simply in need of a trip to the dentist, you can always sign up for our New Hampshire Individual Discount Dental Plan to save as much as 20 percent on all your dental bills. For more information, please click here.

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