An Important Step to Overall Health
Michael D. Weitzner DMD, MS
Vice President, Clinical Product Development
Oral cancer is the sixth most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in the United States. Presently, 30,000 patients are diagnosed  annually with oral cancer. The five-year survival rate is only 50 percent, accounting for 8,000 deaths each year. Oral cancer is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved significantly in the past 50 years, primarily due to the fact that during this time we had not changed the way we screen for this disease (typically a visual and manual examination of the oral cavity, head, and neck). This has recently begun to change. In any case, oral cancer can be dangerous and aggressive:
- Each year, oral cancer claims as many lives as skin cancer (melanoma) and more than cervical cancer.
- Risk factors for oral cancer include smoking, tobacco chewing and drinking alcohol. However, a full 25 percent of cases have no risk factors at all.
- Oral cancer is rising in women, those under age 40 and nonsmokers.
- Recently, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) has been implicated as an additional risk factor in oral cancer, leading to an increase in cases in younger patients and women. HPV has also been implicated in cervical cancer.
Diagnosis and prevention are at least as important as early detection in the treatment of caries and periodontal disease. In addition to limiting risk factors, patients should have an oral cancer screening as part of their regular dental exams.
To learn more about what dentists will look for during a regular dental exam and new screening techniques, open the full article here.
UnitedHealthcare Dental is committed to wellness, prevention and good overall health in addition to oral health.
UnitedHealthcare Dental urges its members to discuss oral cancer screening with their dentist and to have regular examinations in order to catch or even prevent this very dangerous disease.
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