Oral Health Status in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer before Radiotherapy: Baseline Description of an Observational Prospective Study

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) are often considered as a group with compromised oral conditions, but this idea is not sufficiently supported by data in the literature. This study examined the oral condition—specifically the presence of caries and periodontal disease—of a cohort of patients with HNC waiting to start radiation therapy treatment and possible correlations between oral health, different types of HNC and various risk factors. The results confirm that the oral status of many patients with HNC is poor even before radiotherapy treatments and that smoking habit and tumor site are associated with poor oral health. These findings underline the importance of a dentist within a head and neck tumor board (TB), so that oral health can be restored as soon as possible. ABSTRACT: (1) Background: The general hypothesis that HNC patients show compromised oral health (OH) is generally accepted, but it is not evidence-based. The objective of this baseline report of a prospective observational study was to describe the oral health of a cohort of patients with HNC at the time of dental evaluation prior to radiotherapy (RT). (2) Materials and Methods: Two hundred and thirteen patients affected by HNC who had received an indication for RT were examined with the support of orthopantomography (OPT). The DMFt of all included subjects, their periodontal status and the grade of mouth opening were recorded. (3) Results: A total of 195 patients were ultimately included: 146/195 patients (74.9%) showed poor OH (defined as having a DMFt score ≥ 13 and severe periodontitis). The following clinical characteristics were correlated with poor oral health in the univariate analysis: tumor site, smoking habit and age of the patients (in decades); χ2 test, p < 0.05. (4) Conclusions: This study confirms that the OH of HNC patients is often compromised even before the beginning of cancer treatment and, consequently, highlights how important it is to promptly schedule a dental evaluation at the moment of diagnosis of the cancer.