Editorial: Oral health and cancer patients - in need of preventive dentistry interventions

A survey on oral health-related standard of care for head and neck cancer patients in the EU

OBJECTIVE

To map oral health-related standard of care in the context of head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment across the European Union (EU).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Six hundred and ninety centers across the European Union were contacted. The questionnaire contained questions focusing on the team/department structure, HNC treatment planning routines, and assessment and handling of dental treatment needs prior to cancer treatment.

RESULTS

Eighty-seven centers across the EU responded. Department structure and number of HNC patients treated per year varied widely and dental professionals are included as part of the team in about 25% of the centers. Standard of care, in terms of dental assessment and preventive dentistry routines, such as recording an orthopantomogram, offering dental treatment, and providing a radiation protection splint and splint for fluoride application, differed significantly among the European regions. Independent of the region, these aspects are positively affected if dental professionals are part of the interdisciplinary treatment team and if dental treatment is offered within the center.

CONCLUSION

Dental professionals are still only to a very limited extent included in interdisciplinary treatment planning teams of HNC patients. However, their inclusion and/or offering dental treatment within the same hospital/center appears to improve oral health-related standard of care.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Inclusion of dental professionals in treatment planning teams of HNC patients appears to improve oral health-related standard of care within HNC treatment.

Including dental professionals in the multidisciplinary treatment team of head and neck cancer patients improves long-term oral health status

Objective

To assess in a cross-sectional study the impact of including dental professionals in the multidisciplinary treatment team of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients on the long-term oral health status.

Materials and methods

Oral health status, dental care behaviours, and oral health–related quality of life were assessed based on a clinical and radiographic examination, interview, and medical records in patients treated for HNSCC ≥ 6 months ago. This patient group (‘cohort 2’) was treated in a multidisciplinary treatment team including dental professionals and compared to a group of HNSCC patients previously treated at the same university, but without dental professionals included in the multidisciplinary treatment team (‘cohort 1’).

Results

Cohort 2 consisted of 34 patients, who had received a dental check-up and if necessary, treatment by dental professionals prior to the initiation of cancer treatment. This cohort showed significantly improved oral hygiene habits and a better periodontal health status compared to cohort 1. However, cohort 2 still presented high demand for treatment due to active carious lesions; only a few, statistically insignificant improvements were detected compared to cohort 1.

Conclusion

Including dental professionals in the multidisciplinary treatment team of HNSCC patients has a positive impact on patient oral health status—primarily in terms of periodontal disease—6 months and longer after finishing cancer therapy.

Clinical relevance

A team-based approach including dental professionals specialised in head and neck cancer improves oral health status.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00784-021-04276-x.