État buccodentaire des patients avant radiothérapie des voies aérodigestives supérieures : analyse prospective de 48 patients

Evaluation of halitosis parameters in patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy

OBJECTIVES

To assess halitosis parameters using OralChromaTM and the correlation with salivary flow, oral hygiene index, radiation dose, and tongue-coating index among irradiated head-and-neck cancer patients compared to patients without cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study enrolled irradiated and non-irradiated patients divided into two groups. Hydrogen sulphide, methyl mercaptan, and dimethy sulphide (DMS) levels were measured using a gas chromatograph, and sialometry was performed. The tongue-coating index and simplified oral hygiene index were also assessed.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight patients were allocated to each group. Volatile sulphur compound levels were above the thresholds in both groups. Non-irradiated individuals showed higher levels of hydrogen sulphide and dimethyl sulphide. Patients with asialia had an inexpressive tongue-coating index and increased dimethyl sulphide levels. A decrease in salivary flow rate was followed by a significant increase in volatile sulphur compound levels. Higher doses of radiation to the submandibular salivary glands were associated with higher concentrations of sulphide and methyl mercaptan.

CONCLUSIONS

Head and neck radiotherapy may be important in the development of halitosis. Irradiated patients with asialia presented insignificant lingual biofilm. Consequently, lower levels of volatile sulphur compounds were detected in this group. Asialia, a severe radiation-induced hyposalivation, impacted the levels of DMS (extraoral origin).

Assessment of oral health and care in head and neck oncology patients in King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center-Jeddah

Objectives

To assess oral hygiene indices, dental status, and oral health practices among head and neck cancer patients at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC)-Jeddah.

Materials and Methods

The charts of 117 patients with head and neck cancer were reviewed to identify the decayed/missing/filled teeth (DMFT) index, calculus index (CI), gingival index (MGI), and oral hygiene index. The type of cancer, other systemic diseases, and sex data were extracted from the records and analyzed using SPSS statistical software for descriptive statistics, Student’s t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Spearman correlation statistical analyses.

Results

The total mean DMFT index was 14.33. The significant caries index (SiC) for the studied sample was 25.87. Men had a mean DMFT of 14.11 (SD 9.8). The mean DMFT index for women was 14.63 (SD 9.7). The DMFT score for patients with systemic disease was 17.47 (SD 9.9). Patients with no other diseases had a mean DMFT score of 12.82 (SD 9.3). The DMFT index was not significantly different between men and women (p = 0.925). One-way ANOVA (F = 1.729) revealed no significant difference (p = 0.110) between DMFT scores according to the location of the cancer. DMFT with systemic disease showed no significant difference (p = 0.6) in comparison to patients without systemic disease.

The Spearman rho statistic revealed no correlation between the DMFT score and CI (p = 0.383).

Conclusions

The total DMFT score was 14.33. The total SiC was 25.87. The DMFT scores of men and women were not significantly different. Cancer location and presence or absence of systemic diseases did not affect the DMFT score. The DMFT score and CI were not correlated, but a correlation was found between the DMFT score and MGI and the oral hygiene index.