title: Impact of dental considerations on the quality of life of oral cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the significance of pre-treatment dental care in oral cancer patients and to assess its impact on the quality of life of these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample size included 50 oral cancer patients who were visiting to a palliative care unit at Jaipur. Assessment was based on thorough case history, complete dental examination. Quality of life was estimated by W.H.O quality of life questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On analysis, patients of age group 50-59 avoided to prophylactic dental treatment before cancer treatment and therapy. Seventy-eight percent patients experienced worst quality of life after the treatment as a result of dental complications. Out of those 78%, only 2% of patients took preventive dental treatments before the cancer therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dental negligence is still a major cause of worsening of post treatment quality of life of an individual. Therefore, the treating oncologist should always take these considerations seriously to provide quality treatment to the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Government Dental College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Jaishree
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thanvi
authors.affiliation: Scientific Officer (Research and Development), Indian Cancer Society, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Dipika
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bumb
keywords: Behavior; palliative care; post treatment complications