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

Abstract

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.

Keywords: head and neck cancer; oral health; preventive dentistry; questionnaire.