Community Dental Health

cover art

Cover Date:
June 2015
Print ISSN:
0265 539X
Vol:
32
Issue:
2

Human papillomavirus and oral cancer: a primer for dental public health professionals

© BASCD 2015 doi:10.1922/CDH_3460Chattopadhyay12

Human papillomavirus and oral cancer: a primer for dental public health professionals
A. Chattopadhyay, D. Weatherspoon and A. Pinto

There is strong evidence for causal association between human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer, evidence of association of HPV and oropharyngeal cancer is beginning to mount. Objectives: To review the HPV-oral cancer literature for a comprehensive assessment of the issues involved. Methods: Literature search conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar and Google search engine. Results: Both available HPV vaccines are efficacious and safe although expensive. Policy for mandatory HPV vaccination for cervical prevention is mired in political issues stemming from negative cost-effectiveness balance. Dental professionals are not ready to discuss the role of HPV vaccine in cancer prevention. This review discusses the impact of HPV on cervical cancer, transmission of HPV among humans, impact of HPV in oral health, and its plausible role in oral and oropharyngeal cancer, prevention of HPV transmission, available vaccines against HPV, testing, cost, policy and use of HPV vaccines internationally and dentists readiness related to HPV associated health communication. Conclusions: Given the mounting literature on the association between HPV and oropharyngeal cancer, the dental community must be prepared to answer patients’ HPV-related questions and to educate patients about the role of HPV as a risk factor for oral and oropharyngeal cancers.

Key words: oropharyngeal neoplasms, vaccines, papillomavirus vaccines, human papillomavirus, public health, dentists, cost-benefit analysis, decision making

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£
Page Start
117
Page End
128
Authors
A. Chattopadhyay, D. Weatherspoon, A. Pinto

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  1. Editorial
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  3. 67

  1. Dental Public Health in Action
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  1. Identifying dentists’ attitudes towards prevention guidance using Q-sort methodology
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  3. 76

  1. Dentists’ knowledge of oral health during pregnancy: a review of the last 10 years’ publications
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  3. 82

  1. A new capitation payment system in dentistry: the patients’ perspective
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  1. A pilot project to improve the oral health of orphans and of the elderly in residential care in Constanta, Romania
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  1. Caries experience among Romanian schoolchildren: prevalence and trends 1992-2011
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  1. The association between parents’ perceived social norms for toothbrushing and the frequency with which they report brushing their child’s teeth
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  1. Association between dental status and food diversity among older Japanese
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  1. Are Stage of Change constructs relevant for subjective oral health in a vulnerable population?
  2. 111
  3. 116

  1. Human papillomavirus and oral cancer: a primer for dental public health professionals
  2. 117
  3. 128