The Impact of Preventive Protocols on Oral Health Outcomes in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (CT) or radiotherapy (RT) are at increased risk of oral complications. Preventive dental care has been proposed to mitigate these risks, yet its effectiveness is not sufficiently evaluated. This systematic review and m...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| author | Carol Moussa Laurent Estrade Jeremy Glomet Gael Y. Rochefort Frédéric Denis Maha H. Daou |
| author_facet | Carol Moussa Laurent Estrade Jeremy Glomet Gael Y. Rochefort Frédéric Denis Maha H. Daou |
| author_sort | Carol Moussa |
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| description | <b>Background/Objectives</b>: Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (CT) or radiotherapy (RT) are at increased risk of oral complications. Preventive dental care has been proposed to mitigate these risks, yet its effectiveness is not sufficiently evaluated. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of preventive oral health interventions on key clinical outcomes in oncology patients. <b>Methods</b>: A systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL databases was conducted (March 2025), adhering to PRISMA guidelines with a PROSPERO-registered protocol (CRD 420251006799). Eligible studies included randomized trials, cohort studies, and pre–post intervention studies evaluating preventive dental care in patients receiving CT or RT. The outcomes included gingival index (GI), dental caries (DMFT), plaque levels, and periodontal health. Meta-analyses were performed on GI and DMFT outcomes using random-effects models. <b>Results</b>: Eleven studies were included in the qualitative synthesis and four in the meta-analyses. Preventive interventions, such as fluoride applications, oral hygiene education, and regular professional cleanings, were associated with stabilization or improvement of gingival health. The pooled estimate for GI showed no significant deterioration over time (MD = −0.05, 95% CI: −0.34 to 0.24, <i>p</i> = 0.72). For DMFT, a slight but significant increase was observed (MD = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.08 to 2.05, <i>p</i> = 0.03), suggesting a continued risk of caries despite intervention. <b>Conclusions</b>: Preventive dental care interventions appear to support the maintenance of gingival health in cancer patients undergoing CT or RT. However, despite these interventions, a slight increase in dental caries was still observed, indicating that preventive strategies may not fully eliminate the risk of caries. These findings highlight the importance of sustained and individualized oral health programs as part of comprehensive oncology care. Future studies using standardized protocols and longer follow-up periods are needed to better evaluate their long-term effectiveness across diverse cancer populations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-71f6ecc099084d1b942fdbf5e2b6c5e0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2079-9721 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-71f6ecc099084d1b942fdbf5e2b6c5e02025-08-20T03:24:32ZengMDPI AGDiseases2079-97212025-06-0113618610.3390/diseases13060186The Impact of Preventive Protocols on Oral Health Outcomes in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisCarol Moussa0Laurent Estrade1Jeremy Glomet2Gael Y. Rochefort3Frédéric Denis4Maha H. Daou5Faculty of Dentistry, University of Tours, 37032 Tours, FranceDepartment of Medicine and Bucco-Dental Surgery, Tours University Hospital, 37044 Tours, FranceDepartment of Medicine and Bucco-Dental Surgery, Tours University Hospital, 37044 Tours, FranceFaculty of Dentistry, University of Tours, 37032 Tours, FranceFaculty of Dentistry, University of Tours, 37032 Tours, FranceFaculty of Dentistry, University of Tours, 37032 Tours, France<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (CT) or radiotherapy (RT) are at increased risk of oral complications. Preventive dental care has been proposed to mitigate these risks, yet its effectiveness is not sufficiently evaluated. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of preventive oral health interventions on key clinical outcomes in oncology patients. <b>Methods</b>: A systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL databases was conducted (March 2025), adhering to PRISMA guidelines with a PROSPERO-registered protocol (CRD 420251006799). Eligible studies included randomized trials, cohort studies, and pre–post intervention studies evaluating preventive dental care in patients receiving CT or RT. The outcomes included gingival index (GI), dental caries (DMFT), plaque levels, and periodontal health. Meta-analyses were performed on GI and DMFT outcomes using random-effects models. <b>Results</b>: Eleven studies were included in the qualitative synthesis and four in the meta-analyses. Preventive interventions, such as fluoride applications, oral hygiene education, and regular professional cleanings, were associated with stabilization or improvement of gingival health. The pooled estimate for GI showed no significant deterioration over time (MD = −0.05, 95% CI: −0.34 to 0.24, <i>p</i> = 0.72). For DMFT, a slight but significant increase was observed (MD = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.08 to 2.05, <i>p</i> = 0.03), suggesting a continued risk of caries despite intervention. <b>Conclusions</b>: Preventive dental care interventions appear to support the maintenance of gingival health in cancer patients undergoing CT or RT. However, despite these interventions, a slight increase in dental caries was still observed, indicating that preventive strategies may not fully eliminate the risk of caries. These findings highlight the importance of sustained and individualized oral health programs as part of comprehensive oncology care. Future studies using standardized protocols and longer follow-up periods are needed to better evaluate their long-term effectiveness across diverse cancer populations.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/6/186preventive dentistryoral healthcancer patientschemotherapyradiotherapyfluoride |
| spellingShingle | Carol Moussa Laurent Estrade Jeremy Glomet Gael Y. Rochefort Frédéric Denis Maha H. Daou The Impact of Preventive Protocols on Oral Health Outcomes in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Diseases preventive dentistry oral health cancer patients chemotherapy radiotherapy fluoride |
| title | The Impact of Preventive Protocols on Oral Health Outcomes in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_full | The Impact of Preventive Protocols on Oral Health Outcomes in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of Preventive Protocols on Oral Health Outcomes in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of Preventive Protocols on Oral Health Outcomes in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_short | The Impact of Preventive Protocols on Oral Health Outcomes in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_sort | impact of preventive protocols on oral health outcomes in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | preventive dentistry oral health cancer patients chemotherapy radiotherapy fluoride |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/6/186 |
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