Oral health and rehabilitation of patients treated for oral and oropharyngeal cancer

Oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients scheduled for radiotherapy at UNN and St. Olav’s hospital are offered to participate in a prospective study addressing oral health and rehabilitation of this patient group. The included patients go thorough oral and dental screening prior to cancer therapy, where we record dental, periodontal and oral mucosa status. The patients answer questionnaires to assess side effects and quality of life before, during and after cancer treatment. Eighteen months after radiotherapy, the patients will have an oral and dental examination by the dentist at UNN or St. Olav’s hospital, assessing the same variables as at the pretreatment examination, to evaluate how the oral and dental status is affected by the cancer treatment and to what extent the patients have received rehabilitation. The oral health and well-being of the cancer patients will be compared to that of a general adult population in the Tromsø region, recorded through the “Tromstannen – oral health in Northern Norway” and the Tromsø 7 study.

For more Information, please contact: Elin Hadler-Olsen: elin.hadler-olsen@uit.no