Volume 106, Number 12 (2024)

Each month, The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association provides news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. It stands as the primary publication reaching Michigan dentists.

The December issue includes a timely cover feature on evidence supporting community water fluoridation, a clinical feature answering questions on patient dental records, a guest editorial on leadership by former MDA Journal Editor Dr. Bill Chase, and a Back Page article on how a personal touch makes a difference. We also provide our annual 2024 Author/Title Index, and regular departments: The New Professional, MDA Insurance, Dentistry and the Law, Staff Matters, and a Michigan Dental Foundation update.

This month, we offer a reprinted article "Human Papilloma Virus: Its Impact on HPV-Related Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the U.S. Latino Population", from the Massachusetts Dental Society examining HPV vaccination rates within the U.S. Latino population and their correlation with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

The study reveals a steady increase in HPV vaccination rates among Hispanic adolescents between 2012-2015, with male vaccination coverage showing more significant growth (22.1-27.2%) compared to females (5.5-10.7%). Despite these improvements, over half the target population remains unvaccinated. The authors emphasize that the Latino population faces unique healthcare challenges, including cultural and language barriers, lower socioeconomic status, and delayed help-seeking behavior. The article recommends increasing healthcare provider recommendations and educational interventions to improve vaccination rates, particularly given that HPV is linked to approximately 70% of oropharyngeal cancers.