SAÚDE BUCAL E QUALIDADE DE VIDA NO PACIENTE PÓS-RADIOTERAPIA DE CÂNCER DE CABEÇA E PESCOÇO

Abstract

Radiotherapy in a patient with head and neck cancer may produce several negative consequences, such as hypo-salivation. Due to lack of protection by saliva, increase in the number of caries and other periodontal diseases is a risky problem which may cause teeth loss and may impact life quality through mouth health. The impact of mouth health on life quality of post-radiotherapy patients with head and neck cancer is evaluated by evaluating saliva flow and toothlessness. Sample comprised 19 individuals, over 18 years, diagnosed with head and neck cancer. Modulated Intensity Radiotherapy featured in 16 (68.4%) patients, of whom nine (47.4%) ended treatment one year before. Fifteen patients (79.9%) experienced mouth health impacting their life quality. Seven patients (36.8%) did not wear any prosthesis and nine (47.4%) required a combination of rehabilitations. Fifteen (78.9%) patients had low saliva flow and four (21.1%) had better saliva flow after five years of radiotherapy. Pearson´s Coefficient of Co-relation revealed co-relationship between the need for prosthesis and age (p=0.006; r=0.4734) and the need of prosthesis and saliva flow (p=0.03; r=0.3672). Radiotherapy complications on head and neck bring several physical and psychological issues. In some cases, the post-radiotherapy period improves saliva flow, but there is no impact of mouth therapy on life quality in a less-than-one-year treatment. Longitudinal studies with such populations are required to investigate deeply the effect of radiotherapy throughout the years.