Improved Oral Health in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if an oral care programme can prevent or reduce late oral side effects in patients with head and neck cancer following treatment. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Can additional support from hospital dental care for cancer survivors, up to three years after completion of treatment, improve patients' oral health, nutritional status, quality of life, and reduce stress and anxiety compared to standard care?
* Are there differences in oral health outcomes between younger and older individuals receiving additional support from hospital dental care?
* Can additional support from hospital dental care for cancer survivors, up to three years after completion of treatment, reduce the duration of sick leave and enhance patients' ability to return to work compared to standard care?
* Can additional support from hospital dental care for cancer survivors, up to five years after completion of treatment, be cost-effective from a health economic perspective?

Researchers will compare oral care programme to standard care to see if the programme works to improve oral health, reduce oral symptoms and problems, enhance quality of life and lower the economic costs of healthcare

Participants will:

Participate in an oral care programme, every three months for three years.

Conditions

• Head and Neck Cancer Squamous Cell Carcinoma
• Head and Neck Cancer

Interventions

OTHER

Oral health support

The intervention group will receive examination and treatment by a dental hygienist every 3 months starting 6 months after completion of RT/CRT up to 3 years. During visits to the dental hygienist, they will be asked about oral hygiene habits, fluoride use, dry mouth problems, and dietary habits (including intake of easily degradable carbohydrates). Oral dryness will be assessed using the Clinical Oral Dryness Scale. The stimulated salivary secretion and buffering capacity will be assessed, and the ability to open the mouth, cariological and periodontal status and registered plaque. Based on the results of the clinical examination, the patient will get individually tailored advice and recommendations on oral hygiene, fluoride use, dry mouth relief, and support in reducing the intake of food items and drinks with high sugar content. Professional oral care will be given, and fluoride applications when indicated.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Region Västerbotten

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Region Östergötland

  collaborator OTHER

• Sjöbergstiftelsen

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• The Stig & Ragna Gorthon Foundation, Helsingborg

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Swedish Cancer Society

  collaborator OTHER

• Region of Uppsala

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Region Skane

  collaborator OTHER

• Uppsala University

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-09-24

Primary Completion

2035-05-31

Completion

2045-09-23

Countries

• Sweden

Study Locations