IADR Abstract Archives
Compliance with Fluoride Therapy and Caries Rate in Cancer Patients
Objectives: Lifelong daily fluoride therapy is essential to prevent radiation caries after treatment for head and neck cancer. However, compliance with daily fluoride therapy is poor. The purpose of this study was to examine compliance with 2 routes of fluoride application and rate of new caries formation among head and neck cancer patients.
Methods: Patients scheduled to undergo radiation and/or chemotherapy for head and neck cancer were screened, consented and randomly assigned to apply 1.1% neutral sodium fluoride (PreviDent® 5000) using either custom trays for 5 minutes at bedtime or for 2 minutes at bedtime using a toothbrush at the initiation of cancer treatment. All subjects received a full mouth series of radiographs and a comprehensive dental exam to record the number of carious surfaces at baseline. All subjects received standard oral hygiene instructions and were provided an OTC fluoride toothpaste (Colgate Total®) and toothbrush (Colgate Sensitive®) to use during the study. Subjects were required to complete a daily log to document the date/time of their fluoride application and to return the log and all unused products at each study visit to assess compliance. Subjects return at 3 month intervals for one year. ATSU IRB #2017-005
Results: Twenty-two subjects (M=15, F=7), mean age 63.5 years, were enrolled to date. Preliminary data reveals that at 3 months, the mean number of carious surfaces dropped from baseline in both groups (tray: baseline 3.42 to 2.71; brush: 2.0 to 1.25). Compliance with fluoride use was poor in both groups during the first 3 months. Pain from mucositis was the primary self-reported reason for poor compliance among 27% of subjects. However, compliance improved at 6 months. Data collection is ongoing.
Conclusions: Compliance with fluoride therapy is challenging during but improves after cancer therapy
Methods: Patients scheduled to undergo radiation and/or chemotherapy for head and neck cancer were screened, consented and randomly assigned to apply 1.1% neutral sodium fluoride (PreviDent® 5000) using either custom trays for 5 minutes at bedtime or for 2 minutes at bedtime using a toothbrush at the initiation of cancer treatment. All subjects received a full mouth series of radiographs and a comprehensive dental exam to record the number of carious surfaces at baseline. All subjects received standard oral hygiene instructions and were provided an OTC fluoride toothpaste (Colgate Total®) and toothbrush (Colgate Sensitive®) to use during the study. Subjects were required to complete a daily log to document the date/time of their fluoride application and to return the log and all unused products at each study visit to assess compliance. Subjects return at 3 month intervals for one year. ATSU IRB #2017-005
Results: Twenty-two subjects (M=15, F=7), mean age 63.5 years, were enrolled to date. Preliminary data reveals that at 3 months, the mean number of carious surfaces dropped from baseline in both groups (tray: baseline 3.42 to 2.71; brush: 2.0 to 1.25). Compliance with fluoride use was poor in both groups during the first 3 months. Pain from mucositis was the primary self-reported reason for poor compliance among 27% of subjects. However, compliance improved at 6 months. Data collection is ongoing.
Conclusions: Compliance with fluoride therapy is challenging during but improves after cancer therapy