title: Among Patients Undergoing Ablative Treatment for Oral Cancer, Does the Provision of Oral Rehabilitation Improve the Quality of Life? A Review of the Current Literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The impact of oral cancer and its treatment is well documented; therefore, oral rehabilitation (OH; eg, with prosthetics, osseointegrated implants, etc) can be indicated to restore some level of form, function, and well-being. The purpose of this study was to review the current literature and evaluate the impact of OH on quality of life (QoL) after ablative surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic literature search was conducted using EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PsychINFO. The study population was composed of all articles published from 2000 to 2015. To be included, studies had to use validated, specific head and neck QoL measurements (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Head and Neck Module or University of Washington QoL Questionnaire). Only 8 articles met these inclusion criteria. In this review, OH was the primary predictor variable and QoL was the primary outcome variable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 8 articles reviewed used a range of designs, including 1 randomized controlled trial, 3 prospective cohort studies, 3 case series, and 1 single-measurement cross-sectional descriptive study. Sample sizes were small (n = 26 to 102), and there was limited randomization and control of intervention and comparator groups. The overall level of evidence was weak. All studies showed a link between OH and QoL, but the results varied in significance (P < .01 to P = .95).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, there appears to be improvement in QoL to varying degrees after OH. However, a more systematic use of QoL measurements is needed before any definitive conclusions can be drawn.
authors.affiliation: Staff Grade in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Northampton General Hospital, Northampton; Medical Student, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. Electronic address: vahe.petrosyan@ngh.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Vahe
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Petrosyan
authors.affiliation: Medical Student, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Dimity
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.affiliation: Medical Student, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.affiliation: Consultant in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Northampton General Hospital, Northampton, UK.
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ameerally
mesh_terms: D055011:Ablation Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D011788:Quality of Life