Recent research presented at the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) further supports our claim that there is an increasing need for annual oral cancer examinations, especially among younger patients.

The study presented was administered across seven cancer registries, and included 573 oropharyngeal (OP) cancer patients diagnosed between 1994 and 2005. The study included both HPV-positive and HPV-negative groups. 71% of the OP patients were HPV-positive.

The researchers found that HPV-positive cases were highest among males, and highest in individuals under the age of 45.

This study is connected to a paper published earlier this month in Cancer Causes and Control, which explains that rates of HPV-related oral-cavity and pharyngeal cancer have tripled among white men aged 25-44.

The statistics are alarming because the traditional oral cancer patient is changing. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, “the addition of HPV as a risk factor for oral cancer has made it difficult if not impossible to easily define high-risk individuals,” which means it is a necessity to regularly screen your patients, no matter the risk profile.

Identafi^®, our handheld multi-spectral oral cancer screening device, makes regular, thorough oral examinations easy. Identafi uses a three-wavelength optical illumination and visualization system that allows dental professionals to identify oral mucosal abnormalities not visible to the naked eye.

You can find more information on Identafi here.