title: Efficacy of routine pre-radiation dental screening and dental follow-up in head and neck oncology patients on intermediate and late radiation effects. A retrospective evaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Head-neck radiotherapy is accompanied by a life-long risk of developing severe oral problems. This study retrospectively assessed oral foci detected during pre-radiation dental screening and follow-up in order to assess risk factors for developing oral problems after radiotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Charts of 185 consecutive head-neck cancer patients, subjected to a pre-radiation dental screening in the University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands, between January 2004 and December 2008 were reviewed. Eighty (partially) dentulous patients scheduled for curative head-neck radiotherapy met the inclusion criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oral foci were found in 76% of patients, predominantly periodontal disease. Osteoradionecrosis had developed in 9 out of 80 patients (11%). Overall, patients presenting with periodontal pockets ≥ 6mm at dental screening had an increased risk (19%) of developing osteoradionecrosis compared to the total group of patients. Patients in whom periodontal disease treatment was composed of initial periodontal in stead of removal of the affected teeth, the risk of developing osteoradionecrosis was even higher, viz. 33%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A worse periodontal condition at dental screening and initial periodontal therapy to safeguard these patients to develop severe oral sequelae after radiotherapy were shown to be major risk factors of developing osteoradionecrosis.
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Jennifer M
authors: JM
authors: Schuurhuis
authors: Monique A
authors: MA
authors: Stokman
authors: Johannes L N
authors: JL
authors: Roodenburg
authors: Harry
authors: H
authors: Reintsema
authors: Johannes A
authors: JA
authors: Langendijk
authors: Arjan
authors: A
authors: Vissink
authors: Frederik K L
authors: FK
authors: Spijkervet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D003729:Dental Care; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010025:Osteoradionecrosis / Q000209:etiology*; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000209:etiology*