More patients may be at risk of oral cancer than previously believed, warn Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. The three companies are collaborating on an Oral Cancer Awareness Week campaign.
Recent research has highlighted concerns about the disease. A study published last year in the New England Journal of Medicine found a link between oral cancer and human papiloma virus (HPV) , which can be sexually transmitted.
"The fact that we are seeing more cases of oral cancer in women and younger people who do not smoke or drink, [means] it’s crucial for patients to ask their dentist for an oral cancer exam during regular check-ups," said Jed Jacobson, D.D.S., M.S., M.P.H., senior vice president and chief science officer at Delta Dental in the press release."
