HPV-driven oropharyngeal cancer: expanded dental diagnostic framework

Published in JADA on September 29, 2026, the article outlines the rising incidence of HPV‑positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, now accounting for roughly 30% of new head‑and‑neck cancers. It provides a diagnostic framework for dentists, emphasizing routine oral examinations and referral pathways for patients with suspicious lesions, thereby improving early detection rates.