Oral Health Challenges in Post-Treatment Cancer Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study

While current cancer treatments have significantly improved survival rates, they can also lead to long-term oral health complications. These issues can negatively impact quality of life by affecting essential functions such as eating, speaking and maintaining oral hygiene. This cross-sectional observational study aimed to assess the prevalence, severity and impact of oral health problems in cancer survivors treated in the past 1-5 years. The study included a total of 47 patients, aged 24 to 71 years, who were recruited from the European University Dental Clinic (EU-Dent) in Tbilisi, Georgia. Participants were evaluated using structured questionnaires and clinical examinations. Tools such as the WHO Oral Health Questionnaire and EORTC QLQ-OH15 were used to assess self-reported oral health and quality-of-life outcomes. The findings revealed moderate levels of untreated dental caries (DT index: 2.04 ± 2.43), periodontal issues (CPI: 1.44 ± 1.19) and oral mucosal lesions in a subset of patients. Although the majority reported mild to moderate symptoms, significant gaps in preventive care and oral health education were identified, with only 19% of participants receiving information about potential oral health problems related to cancer treatments. Approximately 55% of participants required prompt or urgent dental care, highlighting the necessity for integrated oral health management in survivorship plans. The study emphasizes the importance of comprehensive oral health assessments and multidisciplinary care models to address the varying treatment needs of cancer survivors. These findings have crucial clinical implications, underscoring the need for oncology teams to proactively incorporate oral health care as part of comprehensive cancer treatment. Including dental professionals as part of the oncology care team may promote better long-term outcomes and alleviate discomfort caused by untreated oral issues.