The Oral Health Status of Pre-Treatment Cancer Patients

Background: Cancer is a real public health problem in the world and one of the most frequent causes of morbidity and mortality [1]. In Morocco, more than 50,000 new cases of cancer have been diagnosed in 2019 [2]. Despite a better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of cancer and the development of more targeted and effective cancer treatments, some of their side effects, especially in the oral cavity, remain unavoidable [3]. Materials and methods: The creation of the oral health care unit at the Mohamed VI Center for Cancer Treatment made it possible to carry out a cross-sectional descriptive epidemiological study of 136 patients over a period of 14 months. The objective of this study was to describe the oral status and the need for dental care of patients undergoing cancer treatment. Results: Of 658 patients seen in consultation, 136 met the inclusion criteria of the study. 61.8% of patients were male. 54.4% were non-smokers. The average age was 52 years. Our survey revealed that 86.8% of the patients were from a low socioeconomic level and more than 40% were illiterate. Their oral health status was characterized by an average DMFT index of 13.28, an average plaque index and gingival index of 1.95 and 1.75, respectively. More than half of the patients surveyed reported never brushing their teeth. Conclusion: The survey conducted in the oral health care unit of the Mohamed VI Center for Cancer Treatment has led to a worrying assessment of the oral health of patients admitted for cancer treatment. The dentist has, therefore a primordial role in the prevention and/or treatment of oral sequels secondary to anti-neoplastic therapies, hence the importance of the patient’s care by his dentist before, during and after his chronological treatment. The main objective is to avoid the complications related to these treatments and thus improve the quality of life of patients.