ORAL HEALTH-STATUS OF SOUTHERN CHINESE FOLLOWING HEAD AND NECK IRRADIATION THERAPY FOR NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA

Objective: To investigate the oral health status of patients with naso pharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after completion of radiotherapy. Methods: Thirty-three NPC patients (mean age 53 +/- 10 years) who had completed head and neck radiotherapy (3.6 +/- 3.1 years post operation) were ex amined. Dental caries, periodontal status and oral mucosal lesions wer e recorded. Stimulated whole saliva (SWS) flow rate, pH, buffer capaci ty and carriage rate of carcinogenic micro-organisms were assessed. Ja w opening was measured. Results: Xerostomia was present in all patient s, while 42% had candidiasis and 21% had limited jaw opening. The mean number of teeth present was 22, mean DMFT was 8.0, mean number of unt reated root caries lesions was 1.4. Both saliva pH and buffering capac ity were low while Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp. carriag e were high. 52% of the patients had no dental care following radiothe rapy. Although few patients expressed direct dissatisfaction, perceive d level of information and of post-operative dental care was insuffici ent. Conclusions: Post-irradiated NPC patients constitute a high-risk group for dental root caries and oral candidiasis. The carriage rate o f Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp. in this NPC patient grou p was the highest among findings of other similar studies. This may be related to the inadequacy of dental care after radiotherapy. Head and neck radiotherapy was not associated with periodontal disease. (C) 19 98 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.