Oral health plays a critical role in the overall health and treatment of cancer patients. Oral complications are one of the most common and debilitating events for patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. These complications, including mucosal diseases, osteomyelitis, drug-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ), and even metastatic lesions of the jaw, are significantly dependent on the oral health status of patients at the start of treatment.

A poor oral hygiene can lead to increased toxicity associated with cancer treatment and may lead to temporary or complete discontinuation of specific cancer treatments, which is directly related to the patient's survival.  Despite the fact that guidelines recommend an oral examination and sanitation before treatment, many patients still start therapy without adequate oral health management.

The project aims to confirm that oral health has a significant impact on the outcomes of oncology treatment. In particular, it shows how the condition of oncology patients who received preventive dental services before treatment differs from that of patients who did not receive such services. Our aim is to show that the inability to eliminate oral infections before chemotherapy, especially when using bisphosphonates (e.g., Zometa), or leaving metal structures in the mouth before radiation therapy significantly increases the risk of severe oral complications, disrupts the continuity of treatment, and increases patient morbidity and mortality. The study provides clear evidence to support the integration of preventive dental care into oncology protocols to improve patient quality of life and treatment outcomes.

Despite widespread awareness of oral complications in oncology patients, current Georgian guidelines do not provide specific recommendations for preventive dental care prior to cancer treatment. It is hypothesized that integrating structured preventive dental care into oncology protocols may reduce the incidence and severity of oral complications, which in turn may improve overall treatment outcomes.  This approach would enable oral health management, potentially minimizing treatment interruptions, improving patient quality of life, and facilitating effective cancer treatment.

The project aims to establish that oral hygiene is an essential component of cancer management before the start of oncology treatment, as it prevents the occurrence of oral and systemic complications, ensures the continuity of oncology therapy and significantly improves the quality of life of patients. By generating solid evidence supporting its necessity, the project will strengthen and accelerate the integration of dental hygiene into oncology protocols and lay the foundation for the development of clear national guidelines.

Project objectives
1.    To study a group of patients before and after radiation and chemotherapy who had undergone oral cavity sanitation (extraction of all broken teeth, treatment of carious and periodontal teeth, removal of metal crowns, replacement of damaged non-metal crowns, replacement of complete removable prostheses);
2.    To compare the number of complications with the non-sanitized group;
3.    To determine the causes of complications;
4.    To record the duration of pathological processes on the mucous membrane (aphthae, ulcers, spots) during treatment and in the sanitized and unsanitized oral cavities;
5.    To compare the frequency of osteomyelitis development during chemotherapy in the sanitized and unsanitized oral cavities;
6.    Count the number of patients who, after being informed, refused oral hygiene.
 

შედეგები მეცნიერების/დარგის განვითარებისათვის 
•    სანირებული და არასანირებული პირის ღრუს მდგომარეობის შედარებითი მონაცემთა ბაზა ონკოლოგიაში
• რეცენზირებული პუბლიკაციები და კონფერენციებზე წარმოდგენილი პრეზენტაციები.
• მტკიცებულებებზე დაფუძნებული კლინიკური მონაცემები და პროტოკოლები.
• მონაცემთა რეესტრი მომავალი კვლევებისთვის.

 ზემოქმედება და სარგებელი სამიზნე ჯგუფებისთვის
• ონკო-მკურნალობის შეწყვეტებისა და ჰოსპიტალიზაციის შემცირება.
• კიბოთი დაავადებული პაციენტების პროგნოზისა და სიცოცხლის ხარისხის გაუმჯობესება.
• პირის ღრუს გართულებებისა და ონკოლოგიური მკურნალობის შეწყვეტის  შემცირება.
• სტომატოლოგიური მკურნალობის სავალდებულო პოლიტიკის ცვლილებებისთვის მტკიცებულებების ბაზა.

shedegebi metsnierebis/dargis ganvitarebisatvis 
•    sanirebuli da arasanirebuli p’iris ghrus mdgomareobis shedarebiti monatsemta baza onk’ologiashi
• retsenzirebuli p’ublik’atsiebi da k’onperentsiebze ts’armodgenili p’rezent’atsiebi.
• mt’k’itsebulebebze dapudznebuli k’linik’uri monatsemebi da p’rot’ok’olebi.
• monatsemta reest’ri momavali k’vlevebistvis.

 zemokmedeba da sargebeli samizne jgupebistvis
• onk’o-mk’urnalobis shets’q’vet’ebisa da hosp’it’alizatsiis shemtsireba.
• k’iboti daavadebuli p’atsient’ebis p’rognozisa da sitsotskhlis khariskhis gaumjobeseba.
• p’iris ghrus gartulebebisa da onk’ologiuri mk’urnalobis shets’q’vet’is  shemtsireba.
• st’omat’ologiuri mk’urnalobis savaldebulo p’olit’ik’is tsvlilebebistvis mt’k’itsebulebebis baza.

Show more 775

Results for the development of science/field 
•    Comparative database of sanitized and unsanitized oral cavity conditions in oncology
• Peer-reviewed publications and presentations at conferences.
• Evidence-based clinical data and protocols.
• Data registry for future studies.

 Impact and benefits for target groups
• Reduction of oncology treatment discontinuations and hospitalizations.
• Improvement of prognosis and quality of life of patients with cancer.
• Reduction of oral complications and oncology treatment discontinuations.
• Evidence base for changes in mandatory dental treatment policies.

Project Partners:

• K. Mardaleishvili Oncology Scientific Research Center
• Aversi Clinic