Oral health-related quality of life in head and neck cancer

Dental Tribune International

Thu. 27. November 2025

save

ABERDEEN, Scotland: Head and neck cancer is a highly debilitating disease that has profound consequences for oral function, nutrition, communication and psychosocial well-being. Dentists are central to both the early detection of these cancers as well as the treatment of the oral structures that they may affect. A newly published systematic review offers the most comprehensive overview to date of how head and neck cancer affects patients’ oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL).

Drawing on 101 studies published between 2001 and 2024, the study highlights the wide-ranging impacts of diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation on daily function and well-being. The researchers identified significant variation in OHQoL depending on patient characteristics, tumour site and treatment modality. Socio-economic status emerged as a consistent predictor: individuals with lower income, limited education or reduced social support experienced markedly poorer outcomes, a suite of factors found in a recent regional study on the topic. Being underweight and struggling to maintain adequate nutrition were also associated with worse OHQoL, underscoring the need for early dietary intervention.

In terms of anatomical site in the oral cavity, the tongue and the floor of the mouth were linked with the most compromised OHQoL, and maxillary defects generally resulted in better rehabilitation outcomes than mandibular defects did. Regarding the effects of treatment modality on OHQoL, radiotherapy, whether primary or adjuvant, was repeatedly associated with deterioration in OHQoL, largely owing to mucositis, xerostomia, dysphagia and taste disturbances. Radiation dose and technique further influenced severity of symptoms.

The review also highlighted the importance of psychological well-being for OHQoL, finding that anxiety, depression and sleep disturbance were common among patients reporting poor OHQoL. This reinforces the need for integrated psychological support throughout treatment.

Postoperative rehabilitation showed clear benefits. Prosthetic interventions—including obturators, overdentures, palatal augmentation prostheses and implant-supported solutions—were consistently effective in improving functional and psychosocial outcomes. However, the review emphasised that improvements varied by defect type and surgical reconstruction method.

Based on the findings, the authors recommended routine OHQoL assessment from diagnosis onwards, arguing that targeted nutritional, psychological and rehabilitative support can significantly improve patient outcomes. Their findings also point to major research gaps, particularly in low-income regions where head and neck cancer burden is high but OHQoL data remains scarce.

The study, titled “Oral health–related quality of life in head and neck cancer: A systematic review”, was published online on 18 November 2025 in Frontiers in Oral Health.