DNA Testing for Oral and Throat Cancer

Oral cancer used to share the same profile as other types of cancers – anyone could get it, but for the most part, those at diagnosed were over the age of 40 and participated in behaviors that raised their risk, such as smoking. Today, people are more aware of what causes cancer and what they can do to help prevent it. But as overall cancer rates have declined, instances of oral cancer have steadily risen. The profile of those being is diagnosed is changing, too, now encompassing young adults who’ve never touched a cigarette in their life.

Why are Oral Cancer Rates on the Rise?

The reason is human papillomavirus, commonly referred to as HPV. The HPV virus has more than 120 strains and though most are thought to be harmless, certain strains, including HPV 16, HPV 18, HPV 31, and HPV 45 strain have been linked to several types of cancer, primarily cervical and oral cancer. Rates of HPV-positive oral cancer are also higher in men than women.

Assessing Your Oral Cancer Risk Could Save Your Life

As a general dentist, Dr. Greenbaum is dedicated to eradicating this devastating disease. Oral cancer screenings are a routine part of six-month checkups at our Bethesda dental practice, and now armed with the latest clinical information, we’ve taken it a step further.  Dr. Greenbaum offers the  OraRisk HPV test to determine if you are carrying HPV, and help assess your risk for oral cancer before lesions or other telltale signs ever occur.

How Does OraRisk Work?

OraRisk is simple, painless, and takes about 30 seconds. You’ll simply swish a special saline solution then we’ll take that sample and send it off to our lab. The results of this simple test tell Dr. Greenbaum if you have the HPV virus present. A positive result simply means we keep a closer eye on the health of your mouth and can help educate our patients on the signs and symptoms to look for at home.  When you know your risk, you can take control of your health, and your future.