Background: Management of cancer treatment side effects requires a multidisciplinary approach. However, little is known about dentists’ readiness in and perspectives on managing oral side effects and supporting patients with cancer. This systematic review aims to identify dentists’ knowledge, perceptions, practice and confidence in managing patients undergoing cancer therapy and barriers to dentists providing dental care to patients with cancer.
Methods: The review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and was Prospero registered (CRD42022333055). CINAHL, Embase, Medline, PsychInfo and Scopus databases were searched using keywords and MeSH terms: dentists, oral health, cancer. Studies published in peer review journals since 1990 in English with general dentists and dental specialists reporting data on dentists’ cancer knowledge, dentists’ perceptions about their role in treating patients with cancer, cancer education, clinical practice, and confidence in cancer management skills were included. Quantitative outcomes were analysed descriptively and qualitative data analysed thematically. The review outcomes are presented as a narrative synthesis.
Results: Of the 2303 articles screened, 52 met the eligibility criteria. A majority of articles (n=49) reported on head and neck cancer management, two studies on cancers more broadly and one on leukaemia. The studies were primarily surveys (n=50), one study used a focus group methodology, and one study used a mixed methods approach. Dentists’ oral cancer knowledge varied across studies (27% to 81%, n=27). Regardless of knowledge level, majority of dentists expressed interest in receiving further cancer education. Across studies dentists perceived that general dentists should provide dental treatment for oral cancer patients. However, of the few studies (n=2) that explored dentists’ confidence in managing cancer patients, less than half of dentists felt confident providing advice to patients with head and neck cancer. Barriers for dentists in managing oral health of cancer patients included lack of dental training in cancer care, inadequate clinical guidelines, insufficient time for dental treatment, inadequate communication with the oncology team and lack of patients’ awareness in oral side effects from cancer therapies.
Conclusion: Little is known about dentists’ willingness and capacity to manage the oral health of patients undergoing cancer treatment. This review highlights the need for further research related to the management of patients with non-head and neck cancer and a need for further cancer education to facilitate dental care provision to patients with cancers.