THE ORAL HEALTH STATUS AND PREVENTIVE MEASUREMENTS FOR CANCER PATIENTS

Area of Science:

• Oral health
• Oncology
• Infectious diseases

Background:

• Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation can cause oral side effects, including periodontitis.
• COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) has been associated with various oral symptoms, such as necrotizing periodontal disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the oral health status of cancer patients during COVID-19 infection.
• To analyze correlations between oral health, COVID-19 status, and cancer diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 213 Georgian citizens aged 18-65, divided into four groups: healthy, healthy with COVID-19, cancer patients, and cancer patients with COVID-19.
• Analysis of oral health characteristics, including bleeding index and gingival attachment loss.
• Correlation analysis between oral health, COVID-19 status, and cancer diagnosis.

Main Results:

• Increased oral index scores were observed in cancer and COVID-19 groups compared to healthy individuals.
• Periodontitis was diagnosed in 40 patients, with a significant positive correlation found in cancer and cancer+COVID-19 groups.
• Significant differences in gingival attachment loss were noted between groups (p<0.0001).

Conclusions:

• Cancer patients have a high incidence of periodontitis, worsened by COVID-19.
• Prioritizing oral health protocols for cancer patients, especially those with COVID-19, is essential to prevent tooth loss.
• Regular dental follow-ups are crucial for cancer patients, particularly those with COVID-19, to manage periodontitis and prevent tooth loss.