Abstract
Oral health is a vital component of overall health. If the United States continues to exclude oral healthcare from overall healthcare, negative consequences will persist in individuals, families, and communities. The increasing prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and subsequent HPV-related oral cancers has uncovered the need for more focused attention on the negative consequence of the exclusion of oral healthcare from overall healthcare. A review of the existing literature related to medical-dental integration and HPV is provided. The purpose of this qualitative study was toexamine the capacity and desire of oral healthcare providers to engage in discussion and education of HPV-related oral cancers and the HPV vaccine at dental clinics that serve at-risk patients in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. The aim of this study was to improve the oral health literacy for at-risk patients through a set of recommendations to increase education about HPV-related oral cancers and advocacy for HPV-vaccines among oral healthcare providers. Through focused advocacy and change in the areas of dental-medical integration and eliminating barriers to access to oral healthcare, oral healthcare providers may be able to make substantial, positive change in the HPV vaccination rates. Using the findings of the study, several evidence-based solutions are provided.
Keywords: HPV, HPV vaccines, medical-dental integration, oral cancer, oral healthcare, oral health literacy