*Corresponding author:
Juliet Dang, PhD, MS, RDH, Oral Health Sciences, University of Washington, Box 357475, 1959 NE Pacific St., Seattle, WA, 98195, USAReceived: October 31, 2017; Published: November 08, 2017
DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2017.01.000506
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In the United States, it is estimated that there are at least 20 million new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) each year, with a prevalence of 110 million people infected, and costing the country 16 billion dollars. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates just over 14 million new cases of HPV infection each year in the US, where half consist of young people between the ages of 15-24 [1]. Approximately 90% of HPV infections will clear within a few years without any symptoms. However, for the infections that do persist, serious health risks may be the outcome.
Abbreviations: STIs: Sexually Transmitted Infections; CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; OCC: Oral Cavity Cancer; OPC: Oropharyngeal Cancer