How involved are dentists in preventing HPV-related oral cancer?

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the leading cause of oral cancer (OC), a cancer type with rapidly increasing rates of incidence across multiple age categories, within some racial and ethnic groups, and among certain populations as defined by risk.  Dentists can play a role in the prevention of HPV-related OC through patient education, screening, and referral.  This study assessed dentists' awareness and perceived importance of HPV and OC, their screening and education practices, and their comfort in discussing HPV with their patients.  Five hundred dentists who practiced in southeastern Pennsylvania were randomly selected to complete an 8-item mailed survey.  One hundred and forty nine dentists (30%) completed the survey; 112 (75%) were male, 118 (79%) practiced in a suburban setting, and the average dentist had been practicing for 28 years. Eighty-one dentists (55%) did not routinely counsel their patients about the link between HPV and OC although 91 dentists (61%) identified the topic area as important to patient health.  Only 50 dentists (33%) had confidence in discussing HPV with their patients and only 32 dentists (20%) felt comfortable assessing HPV risk, including sexual health history, with their patients.   The majority of dentists (75%) did not have educational materials about HPV or OC available to patients.  Despite being on the front line of oral health, dentists are missing an opportunity to engage patients in discussions about HPV and screen for OC.  Interventions to enable dentists to act as public health agents related to this increasingly burdensome cancer are warranted.