Mastication in patients treated for malignancies in tongue and/or floor of mouth: A 1-year prospective study.
BACKGROUND
People confronted with oral cancer run a high risk of deteriorated masticatory performance. Reduced masticatory function may affect quality of life and food choice. An altered food choice may result in lower intakes for key nutrients and weight loss.


METHODS
Dental state, bite force, and masticatory performance were determined in a group of 45 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and/or floor of mouth. Measurements were performed before surgery and at various moments after surgery and/or radiotherapy.


RESULTS
Surgical intervention had a large negative impact on oral function. Radiotherapy further worsened oral function. Also, the recovery of oral function 1 year after surgery was less prominent for the surgery-radiotherapy group than for the surgery group.


CONCLUSIONS
Objective determination of oral function 1 year after surgery showed that patients treated for malignancies in the tongue and/or floor of mouth had significantly deteriorated masticatory performance, bite force, and dental state.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Prosthodontics, and Special Dental Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, PO Box 85.060, NL 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands. c.m.speksnijder@umcutrecht.nl
Caroline M
CM
Speksnijder
Andries
A
van der Bilt
Jan H
JH
Abbink
Matthias A W
MA
Merkx
Ron
R
Koole
D001732:Bite Force; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D009060:Mouth Floor; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery