Comments for The Doctor's Review http://vangurpdentistry.com/blog Dr. Richard W. Van Gurp Sun, 19 Sep 2010 23:02:45 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on Actor’s Diagnosis…Could It Happen To You? by Brian http://vangurpdentistry.com/blog/index.php/2010/09/actors-diagnosis-could-it-happen-to-you/comment-page-1/#comment-38 Brian Sun, 19 Sep 2010 23:02:45 +0000 http://vangurpdentistry.com/blog/?p=129#comment-38 Thank you doctor for being part of the solution to this problem. I think it is important that people understand a few things about oral cancers and HPV. There are about 130 known versions of HPV today. 9 are known to be definitely oncogenic, anther 6 are suspected to be. Thankfully in the world of oral cancers only one version, #16 is at play. While 16 and 18 produce the vast majority of all cervical cancers, 18 is only found as a artifact in research of oral cancer occasionally. While the CDC says that about 80% of the American public will have HPV at some point in their lives, only a small percentage will have HPV16, and of those, only a small percentage will develop an oral cancer as a result. 99% of people will have an immune system that recognizes HPV16 as a threat, and their bodies will clear it within a couple of months. Some unlucky people, for reasons that likely have to do with genetics (which you can thank your grandparents for) like me, have an immune system that does not recognize it. I developed a stage four (when found) HPV+ oral cancer and was a never smoker and light drinker. The problem is there is no way to know which group you fall into - protected, or not protected. So annual oral cancer screenings at your dental office are paramount as in the early stages the symptoms will likely go unnoticed by the patient. As to the use of adjunctive devices when not dealing with tobacco etiology oral cancers, they are of little benefit. These cancers are occult the majority of the time and do not produce the lesions that we have historically come to associate in the mouth with tobacco carcinogenisis. Occurring almost exclusively in the posterior oropharynx they lend themselves poorly to early discovery even when present. Dentists are doing more neck palpation now in the screening process, as too often that is the place where we first find the disease as a positive hard, fixated, painless, lymph node. The only good news in this is that in work funded by OCF and the NCI this year, we were able to show that these oral cancers respond better to treatments, and there is a distinct survival advantage vs. tobacco origin OC. Bottom line - get screened. It is unlikely that you can avoid the virus, and it is not knowable if you have an immune system that defends against it. If your dentist is not screening you for oral cancer OPPORTUNISTICALLY, even when you have no complaint.... you need to find someone else. If someone reading this wants detailed information and access to the scientific articles behind it all, please visit this page on the OCF web site. http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/hpv/index.htm Thank you doctor for being part of the solution to this problem. I think it is important that people understand a few things about oral cancers and HPV. There are about 130 known versions of HPV today. 9 are known to be definitely oncogenic, anther 6 are suspected to be. Thankfully in the world of oral cancers only one version, #16 is at play. While 16 and 18 produce the vast majority of all cervical cancers, 18 is only found as a artifact in research of oral cancer occasionally.

While the CDC says that about 80% of the American public will have HPV at some point in their lives, only a small percentage will have HPV16, and of those, only a small percentage will develop an oral cancer as a result. 99% of people will have an immune system that recognizes HPV16 as a threat, and their bodies will clear it within a couple of months. Some unlucky people, for reasons that likely have to do with genetics (which you can thank your grandparents for) like me, have an immune system that does not recognize it. I developed a stage four (when found) HPV+ oral cancer and was a never smoker and light drinker. The problem is there is no way to know which group you fall into – protected, or not protected. So annual oral cancer screenings at your dental office are paramount as in the early stages the symptoms will likely go unnoticed by the patient.

As to the use of adjunctive devices when not dealing with tobacco etiology oral cancers, they are of little benefit. These cancers are occult the majority of the time and do not produce the lesions that we have historically come to associate in the mouth with tobacco carcinogenisis. Occurring almost exclusively in the posterior oropharynx they lend themselves poorly to early discovery even when present. Dentists are doing more neck palpation now in the screening process, as too often that is the place where we first find the disease as a positive hard, fixated, painless, lymph node. The only good news in this is that in work funded by OCF and the NCI this year, we were able to show that these oral cancers respond better to treatments, and there is a distinct survival advantage vs. tobacco origin OC.

Bottom line – get screened. It is unlikely that you can avoid the virus, and it is not knowable if you have an immune system that defends against it. If your dentist is not screening you for oral cancer OPPORTUNISTICALLY, even when you have no complaint…. you need to find someone else. If someone reading this wants detailed information and access to the scientific articles behind it all, please visit this page on the OCF web site. http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/hpv/index.htm

]]> Comment on Hormones and Women’s Oral Health by Dentistry Roseville http://vangurpdentistry.com/blog/index.php/2009/11/hormones-and-women%e2%80%99s-oral-health/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Dentistry Roseville Wed, 28 Apr 2010 08:16:30 +0000 http://vangurpdentistry.com/blog/?p=19#comment-4 The condition of a woman's teeth and gum changes in every stage, be it during menstruation or pregnancy. What's important to keep in mind is to practice good oral hygiene by regularly flossing and brushing and having regular check ups with your dentist at least every six months. The condition of a woman’s teeth and gum changes in every stage, be it during menstruation or pregnancy. What’s important to keep in mind is to practice good oral hygiene by regularly flossing and brushing and having regular check ups with your dentist at least every six months.

]]> Comment on Fluoride for Adults – A Weapon Against Cavities, Sensitive Teeth and Gum Disease by Dental Costa Mesa http://vangurpdentistry.com/blog/index.php/2009/11/fluoride-for-adults-%e2%80%93-a-weapon-against-cavities-sensitive-teeth-and-gum-disease/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Dental Costa Mesa Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:40:22 +0000 http://vangurpdentistry.com/blog/?p=10#comment-2 Hi there, This is my first visit to your blog and looking on, I’m impressed! Great contents! It's good to know that there are dental professionals who are good with communicating with people thru blogs like this. I commend them! It is very important that dentists are able to give people a clear idea and explanation of what they need to know regarding their dental health, problems, and treatments. Best Regards, Tina Hi there, This is my first visit to your blog and looking on, I’m impressed! Great contents! It’s good to know that there are dental professionals who are good with communicating with people thru blogs like this. I commend them! It is very important that dentists are able to give people a clear idea and explanation of what they need to know regarding their dental health, problems, and treatments.

Best Regards,
Tina

]]>