Salivary Detection of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in Dental Patients: A Pilot Study on Clinical and Behavioral Risk Correlates

Abstract

^{Background/Objective: Oral infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is a growing etiological factor in oropharyngeal cancer, often affecting individuals without traditional risk factors. Dentists may contribute to early detection through salivary screening and behavioral risk assessment. This pilot study aimed to investigate the prevalence of oral HPV infection and its association with clinical and lifestyle variables in dental patients.
Methods: Thirty adult patients attending routine dental visits were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Each underwent clinical oral examination, behavioral risk assessment (including smoking, alcohol use, and sexual history), and provided an unstimulated saliva sample. HPV DNA detection was performed using PCR, with genotyping for HPV16 and HPV18. Associations between HPV positivity and variables were analyzed using univariate tests and logistic regression. Results: HPV DNA was identified in 6 patients (20%), with high-risk genotypes detected in most cases. HPV positivity was associated with current smoking, poor oral hygiene, oral sexual practices, and presence of suspicious mucosal lesions. Logistic regression revealed oral lesions (OR = 19.17) and poor hygiene (OR = 7.00) as independent predictors. ROC analysis showed high model discrimination (AUC = 1.00). Conclusion: Salivary testing is feasible in dental settings and may assist in identifying patients at elevated risk for HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer. Integrating behavioral screening and salivary diagnostics in dentistry could improve early referral and prevention strategies. Larger studies are needed to refine predictive algorithms for routine use.}