HPV and Oral Cancer

April is the Oral Cancer Foundation’s awareness month. At Fresh Meadows Dental Care in Oakland Gardens, we want to use this as an opportunity to educate patients about a particular kind of oral cancer that they must be vigilant against: that caused by HPV.

The oral cancer screening devices in our office help us to detect suspicious tissues in the oral cavity, which might be due to cancer caused by smoking or use of alcohol. Unfortunately, cancer caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) is not so easy to detect. It usually occurs in the oropharynx, which is the region at the back of the mouth encompassing the tonsils and base of the tongue. Furthermore, of the hundreds of HPV strains, only one is known to cause oral cancer, and it has to remain in the body for an unusually long time to pose a threat.

In the absence of a direct test, we’ll need patients to disclose to us whether they’ve recently experienced persistent pain or numbness in their mouths or throats or whether they’ve had difficulty swallowing. We’ll also search for discoloration in the mouth. Unilateral ear aches and lumps on the neck may also be oral cancer-related, so don’t be shy about sharing any concerns you have about these with your dentist.

Farid Hakimzadeh, DDS, operates Fresh Meadows Dental Care at 58-47 Francis Lewis Blvd., Suite 100, Oakland Gardens, New York, 11364. To schedule an appointment, call 718-224-7272 or visit Fresh Meadows Dental and fill out a contact form.

 

Oral Pathology

The oral cavity refers to the mouth and consists of the lips, the lining inside the cheeks and lips, the tongue, the upper and lower gums, the roof and floor of the mouth, and the small area behind the wisdom teeth.  Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh of Fresh Meadows Dental Care specializes in oral pathology which identifies and treats diseases of these tissues. Some of the diseases that Dr. Hakimzadeh diagnoses include mouth and throat cancer, mumps, salivary gland disorders, ulcers, and more. 

Research has identified a number of factors that increase the risk of developing oral cancers. To prevent oral cancer you should avoid tobacco use of any kind, keep alcohol use to a minimum and avoid excessive sun exposure. You should schedule an appointment with Dr. Hakimzadeh if you experience a sore that doesn’t heal, loose teeth, tongue pain, and difficulty eating or speaking. If mouth cancer is detected, Dr. Hakimzadeh will work to determine the extent, or stage of cancer and discuss treatment options.

If you have questions about oral pathology, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.freshmeadowsdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh of Fresh Meadows Dental Care in Oakland Gardens, NY, call 718-224-7272.