Detection Starts
at the Dentist
The Silent Threat in Every Exam Room
Routine dental exams are one of the few moments in healthcare where a provider has direct access to the oropharynx. Yet cancers caused by HPV often go undetected until it’s too late. OP2 changes that—giving you a diagnostic tool that turns routine exams into life-saving opportunities.
Oropharyngeal cancer is rising fast —
especially in patients who don’t fit traditional risk profiles.
The data below makes one thing clear:
dentists aren’t just treating teeth anymore.
You’re on the front line of early cancer detection.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
70%
of oropharyngeal cancers are caused by HPV
10% of men
have oral HPV
3.6% of women
have oral HPV
21,474 cases
of oropharyngeal cancer annually —
nearly double cervical cancer
95% sensitivity
100% specificity
with Omni’s OP2 Test
50% mortality
rate
due to late-stage detection
“Dentists and Dental Hygienists possess unparalleled access to patients’ throats.”
Being male
Age 50+
Oral sex
Multiple sexual partners
Open-mouth kissing
Smoking
Drinking alcohol
Sharing drinks or utensils
Weakened immune system
Oral HPV doesn’t just affect people with obvious risk factors. In fact, many patients diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer had no visible symptoms or red flags. The virus spreads easily, often silently — and it’s more common than you think.
These are the most common factors linked to oral HPV and oropharyngeal cancer: