Dental Professionals and Human Papillomavirus Vaccinations

ABSTRACT

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Highrisk type HPV infections can cause many types of cancers, including oropharyngeal cancer. The HPV vaccine is the most effective method for the prevention of HPV-related cancers. However, HPV vaccination rates remain low in the United States. Dental professionals are well positioned to be at the forefront of educating patients about HPV, discussing the HPV vaccine and promoting vaccination with their patients.

Keywords::

• Human papillomavirus
• HPV
• vaccinations

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alessandro Villa

Alessandro Villa, DDS, PhD, MPH, is the chief of the Sol Silverman Oral Medicine Clinic and the program director for the oral medicine residency program at the University of California, San Francisco. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported.

Dalton Pham

Dalton Pham, DMD, is a graduate of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and is a resident in New York City. He has worked on HPV prevention with Dr. Villa for two years. Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported.