The association between dental arch length and oral health-related quality of life in head and neck cancer patients post-radiotherapy

Abstract

Aims: To assess the association between length of dental arch and oral health-related quality of life in head and neck cancer patients post-radiotherapy.

Methods: Thirty head and neck cancer participants reported their oral health-related quality of life using the oral health impact profile-14 instrument and their global self-rating of general and oral health. All patients had received chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The length of dental arch was assessed in three tooth relational categories: canine-to-canine, shortened (premolars to premolars), and long (molars to molars) dental arches. Inclusion of participants for any of the three categories required verification of opposing teeth relationship with Shim Stock paper.

Results: Out of 30 head and neck cancer patients, eight (27%) had a canine-to-canine dental arch, 14 (46%) had a shortened dental arch, and eight (27%) had a long dental arch. The median oral health impact profile-14 scores for participants respectively with the canine-to-canine dental arch was six (IQR = 9.25), seven (IQR = 8) for participants with shortened dental arch, and 11 (IQR = 12.5) for participants with long dental arch. There were no significant differences in oral health impact profile-14 scores between the three-tooth relational groups (Kruskal-Wallis H = 0.769, df = 2, P-value = .681). Similarly, there were no significant differences between three-tooth relational groups on the self rating of general (Chi-squared = 1.714, df = 2, P-value = .424) and oral health (Chi-squared = 1.393, df = 2, P-value = .498).

Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, no association was found between the length of dental arch and oral health-related quality of life in head and neck cancer patients post-radiotherapy. Other factors such as dry mouth, oral mucositis, loss of taste, and trismus should be considered as contributory factors to reduced oral health-related quality of life in head and neck cancer patients post-radiotherapy, particularly in relation to eating difficulties.

Keywords: difficulty eating; dry mouth; head and neck neoplasm; missing teeth; osteoradionecrosis; quality of life; radiotherapy.