Oral Health Integration Program Coordinator Ohio Department of Health
Disclosure(s):
Star Sawicki, RDH, MPH: No financial relationships to disclose
Description: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Most HPV infections are cleared from the body on their own, within one to two years of infection. However, persistent infection with high-risk HPVs can lead to cancer. It’s estimated that approximately 70% of oropharyngeal cancer cases are probably attributed to HPV and in the United States, there are more cases of oropharyngeal cancer than any other HPV-associated cancer. Despite HPV vaccines providing safe, effective, and long-lasting protection against cancer-causing HPV infections, HPV vaccine rates remain low.
Given the relationship between oropharyngeal cancer and HPV, dental professionals can play an integral role in reducing HPV-associated cancer rates by asking patients about their HPV vaccine status, providing education, and referring patients to their primary care provider to obtain the vaccine. To study the extent to which these practices are being done, the Ohio Department of Health conducted a survey of Ohio dentists and dental hygienists to assess their knowledge of, attitudes about, and practices related to oral cancer screening, HPV, and the HPV vaccine.
This round table session will explain the survey methodology, present the results of the survey, and share Ohio’s next steps for involving dental professionals in lowering HPV-associated cancer rates.
