Comparative analysis of dental screening programs for patients awaiting head and neck radiation therapy

It is recommended that patients awaiting radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC) undergo a dental evaluation and receive dental clearance to minimize complications. The authors aimed to compare the time from RT consultation to dental clearance across 3 dental screening programs to inform protocol improvements for patients awaiting RT for HNC.

This retrospective study included patients with HNC awaiting RT who participated in 1 of 3 dental screening programs: (1) in-house dental, (2) community-based (CB) (outside) dental, or (3) mixed (outside dentist with records reviewed by an in-house oral medicine specialist). Data collected included demographic characteristics, dental screenings, interventions, and time to clearance. Descriptive statistics summarized demographic and clinical characteristics. Wilcoxon rank-sum tests and Pearson correlation coefficients evaluated clearance time differences.

Among 281 patients, 62 participated in the in-house dental program, 124 in the CB dental program, and 95 in the mixed program. Mean travel distance was greatest for the CB dental program (43.8 miles), followed by the mixed (40.3 miles) and in-house dental (30.9 miles) programs (P = .61). Mean times to clearance were 28.6 days for the in-house dental program, 22.6 days for the CB dental program, and 21.4 days for the mixed program (P = .1959).

The mixed program, incorporating an oral medicine review of outside evaluations, had the shortest time to clearance, despite greater travel distances, highlighting the value of hybrid models.

Timely dental screenings before RT for HNC are critical to initiate cancer treatment promptly and minimize the risk of developing secondary oral complications. Integrating oral medicine into the HNC care team ensures rapid, specialized dental treatment, optimizing patient outcomes.