Adherence to Dental Care in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Post-Radiation Therapy: A Scoping Review.

Abstract

This scoping review aims to identify factors influencing adherence to dental guidelines following radiation therapy (RT) and to describe dental outcomes associated with poor adherence. The authors conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases, reported using the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Studies were included if they reported on rates of dental adherence among post-RT head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. Data were extracted on rates of guideline adherence, dental health outcomes, barriers to care, and interventions. Twelve studies with a pooled sample size of 2925 patients met inclusion criteria. Adherence to post-RT dental guidelines ranged from 19% to 93%. Commonly reported barriers to adherence included lack of patient education, financial hardship, limited dental provider availability, access to health insurance, and poor care coordination. Facilitators of adherence included integrated survivorship clinics, pre-RT dental counseling, and structured follow-up programs. Interventions with multidisciplinary collaboration and streamlined referral processes showed promise in improving adherence rates. Adherence to dental guidelines post-RT is influenced by a combination of individual, provider, and systemic factors. While several interventions show potential, further research is needed to develop effective implementation strategies. Strengthening multidisciplinary communication, improving patient education, and implementing structured follow-up may enhance long-term oral health outcomes for HNC survivors.