HPV Testing and General Dentistry

Posted in General Dentistry

Looking at the title for this post, you might think to yourself, “What do HPV and dentistry have to do with one another?” HPV is gradually becoming one of the leading causes of oral cancer in patients who don’t have any of the normal risk factors. In fact, it’s been estimated that a quarter of all new diagnoses are in patients who don’t smoke or drink alcohol excessively, two of the most common behaviors associated with oral cancer.

At Bethesda Sedation Dentistry, we can help patients stay informed of their oral health with an oral cancer screening with Oral DNA’s OraRisk test. This non-invasive screening tool helps Dr. Schlossberg and Dr. Klotz identify whether you’re at risk of developing HPV-related oral cancer and determine the appropriate monitoring for you.

There are many different strains of the HPV virus, and not all can lead to complications. But if you do have one of those strains, we want to help you monitor your health so we can provide early care if need be.  An oral cancer screening is a regular part of any regular checkup.

Find out more about oral cancer screenings with Oral DNA by revisiting an older post on the topic. And don’t hesitate to schedule a visit with us if it’s been more than six months since your last checkup. Dr. Schlossberg and Dr. Klotz offer great general and preventive care to patients from Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Rockville, Potomac, Northern Virginia, and Washington D.C.