Dental follow-up compliance in a population of irradiated head and neck cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed post-radiation therapy dental follow-up compliance in a population of head and neck cancer patients.


METHODS
A total of 334 dental charts were retrospectively reviewed to determine the follow-up status of dentate patients. All patients were informed of the importance of returning, after completing radiotherapy, for regular follow-up dental examinations on an indefinite basis. Data regarding compliance with these follow-up instructions over time were obtained.


RESULTS
Approximately 170 (51%) of the 334 dentate patients were identified as being lost to dental follow-up. The mean point in time at which follow-up failure occurred was 7.5 months after the initial preirradiation dental examination.


CONCLUSIONS
Dental follow-up compliance may be poor in this irradiated patient population, with follow-up failures potentially occurring less than 1 year after the completion of radiotherapy. Preradiation dental care planning must take into account the likelihood of patients being lost to follow-up.
Toljanic
Joseph A
JA
Section of Dentistry, The University of Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA. jtoljani@surgery.bsd.uchicago.edu
Heshmati
Reza H
RH
Bedard
Jean-Francois
JF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D016371:Cranial Irradiation / Q000523:psychology*; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012189:Retrospective Studies