Every few years Washingtonian magazine does a guide to the best dentists in the DC/Maryland/northern Virginia region. The October issue, which just arrived in my mailbox, contains the latest list -- along with a sidebar by senior editor Sherri Dalphonse (p. 161) about the important role of dentists in screening for oral cancer.

The sidebar notes the increasing numbers of HPV-related cases, particularly mentioning the rising rates in young women because of oral sex, and quotes Brian talking about how too many dentists are considering only the "stereotypical smoker" when doing an oral cancer screening. Brian also describes how such a screening should be performed.

The sidebar is not on the web yet -- I'll check periodically and post a link when one appears.

For those of you who subscribe to or purchase these "city" magazines, which are in just about every large metropolitan area -- if they have done such lists in the past, write the editors and suggest a similar sidebar when the list is updated.

I am glad this is finally out there. Every opportunity we get to expose people to a disease which most people have not heard about, and tie that to the early detection/annual screening message is a good thing. The magazine has a large circulation and this will hopefully be seen by many people.

Here's the link for the article in the October 2006 issue of Washingtonian magazine about dentists and oral cancer screening.