Oral Cancer

Oral Cancer Detection: The Power of Knowledge, Technology, and Training

Posted on by Parul Dua Makkar, BSc, DDS, FACD, FICD
Oral cancer remains one of the most devastating diseases in dentistry, with thousands of new cases diagnosed each year. Too often, it is discovered late, when survival rates drop and treatment becomes more aggressive. Yet, as dental professionals, we are uniquely positioned to change that story. Every exam, every screening, and every conversation with a patient holds the potential to save a life. This is where modern tools like OralDNA® salivary testing make a profound difference. Saliva ...
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An Imbalanced Oral Microbiome Can Cause Throat Cancer, But You Can Prevent It

Posted on by Cass Nelson-Dooley MS
Every April, there is a campaign to bring awareness to head and neck cancers. What exactly are head and neck cancers? Head and neck cancers affect the mouth, throat, sinuses and nose, salivary glands, or larynx (the voice box). Their hallmark is that they involve squamous cells, which line the mouth, throat, and sinuses—those wet, mucous-rich surfaces. How do head and neck cancers take hold? Cancer cells are damaged cells that can live forever. Cancer requires one or more of these proce...
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Throwback: Side Effects Support LLC

Posted on by Jill Meyer-Lippert RDH
As I started my first job in dentistry, my mother received a breast cancer diagnosis and suffered horribly with oral side effects from chemotherapy. Her pain from severe dry mouth and mouth sores (oral mucositis) was dismissed by her oncology team as “just part of treatments.” She received no guidance on how to prevent or reduce her discomfort and there were no oral care strategies implemented to prevent long-term damage to her dental health. Through questioning other cancer survivors, I le...
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Protect Patient Health with Salivary Diagnostics

Posted on by Kathryn Gilliam
Persistent oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infections have been linked to an increased risk of oral and oropharyngeal cancer. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection. Over 200 strains of HPV have been identified. The high-risk types, HPV-16 and HPV-18 are associated with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). The CDC reports that HPV is responsible for approximately 70% of oropharyngeal cancer in the Unit...
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Research Spotlight: Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and the Role of Salivary Diagnostics by Emily Long, BS

Posted on by Emily Long
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounts for 90% of all head and neck cancers, posing a significant public health concern worldwide (Shafiq et al., 2023). Despite increasing awareness, OSCC is frequently diagnosed at advanced stages, leading to poor prognoses and lower survival rates (Roi et al., 2019). If untreated, this type of cancer can metastasize, spreading to other regions of the body. According to the National Cancer Institute, 53% of cancers in the oral cavity and pharynx are id...
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Becoming Comfortable with the Uncomfortable

Posted on by Michael Goldberg DMD
We all need to start somewhere. Think of the first time you put a mirror and explorer into your hands- uncomfortable right? I am going to start with a few stories where I am certain you can relate, followed by a challenge to become comfortable when discussing HPV, a known risk for oral pharyngeal cancer. My son, like many children, was always trying to one-up us. Kids love to do that to their parents. When he was about 11, we were sitting at the dinner table, where we often discussed the ...
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What Our Patients Should Know About Oral Cancer & HPV

Posted on by Shelley Brown MEd BSDH RDH
There are over 100 types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and more than 42 million Americans are infected with types of HPV that cause disease. The CDC says nearly everyone will get a form of HPV at some point in their lives, and about 13 million Americans, including teens, become infected each year1. There are strains of HPV that are more virulent than others which divides HPV into 2 main groups: Low-risk HPV types such as 6, 11, 42, 43, and 44 have a reduced association with cancer but can ...
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Part 2: Build the Microscopic Army in Your Mouth to Fight Oral Cancer and Improve Dental Health

Posted on by Cass Nelson-Dooley MS
Last week in part 1, oral cancer was defined with a potential cause being oral dysbiosis identified. This week, I will give supporting evidence of this connection along with strategies to avoid this dysbiosis. When we talk about an unhealthy microbiome, we often use the word, “dysbiosis.” Oral dysbiosis is a mouth that is unhealthy because the microorganisms are out of balance. An imbalanced microbiome may lead to symptoms or disease. Symptoms of Oral Dysbiosis: Bad breath Blee...
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Part 1: Build the Microscopic Army in Your Mouth to Fight Oral Cancer and Improve Dental Health

Posted on by Cass Nelson-Dooley MS
Oral Cancer Is No Match for a Healthy Oral Microbiome Fostering a healthy oral microbiome can fight oral and other cancers. That’s nothing to say for its benefits on cavities, root canal infections, and gum disease. Your friendly bacteria protect you from disease, fight tumors, cool off inflammation, and boost your immune system. Who wouldn’t want this army of microscopic warriors on their side?! In this two-part blog, you will learn that cancers can be caused by bacteria, viruses, ...
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The Co-management of an Esophageal Cancer Survivor

Posted on by Camille Luke RDH MSDH
Background: The patient is a 75-year-old female with a history of esophageal cancer in 2013. The origin of the cancer was determined to be lichen planus. Surgical removal of the lesion occurred, and no reconstructive surgery was needed. However, post-surgery to present date, the patient experiences severe acid reflux and sleeps with her head elevated. She has great home dental care and follows a 3-month periodontal maintenance. During the head and neck exam, no significant findings were disc...
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