There are more than 34,000 new cases of oral cancer every year in this country. Although smoking is the biggest risk factor, the Human Papilloma Virus takes the blame for oral cancer about 30 percent of the time.
Now, a new test, offered by dentists, may tell you if you have the virus. It's called OraRisk®.
Dr. Dawm Rickert said, "The test is a non-invasive test where the patient comes in, they rinse with a sterile saline solution, and gargle with it for about 30-seconds. Then they spit it into a small, little vial that goes to a lab for analysis."
Not all dental plans pay for the OraRisk® test, but it's important to remember that your dentist can at least keep an eye out for early signs of oral cancer.
For information on the OraRisk® HPV Test:
http://www.oraldna.com/oral-hpv-testing.html
For general information on oral cancer:
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, http://www.aaoms.org/oral_cancer.php
American Cancer Society, http://www.cancer.org
National Cancer Institute, http://www.cancer.gov
Oral Cancer Foundation, http://oralcancerfoundation.org
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