HPV Infections in the Mouth

HPV can infect oral tissues.  A subgroup of oral cancer clearly is associated with HPV.  Oral HPV is transmitted sexually but also can be transmitted from mouth to mouth and vertically from an infected mother during delivery.  A detailed description of the mechanism by which an HPV lesion develops into oral cancer, with pictures, is found in JADA August 2011, 142(8), pp905, at www.jada.ada.org

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

HPV Vaccinations

Because HPV infections are very common and often asymptomatic, because there is a direct relationship between HPV infection and increased prevalence of cervical, anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers, because diseases often develop many years after infection, and because there is an available vaccine, the FDA recommends vaccination of boys and girls at the age of 11 or 12 years.

The vaccines currently available prevent infection from the HPV strains that cause most of the cervical, vaginal and vulvar cancers in women.  Vaccinating boys curtails HPV transmission.  Both males and females may develop cancers of the oropharynx and tonsils.  The FDA recommends that the vaccines be given up to the age of 26.

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309