Very few patients actually complain of oral dryness (1.5%), yet on questioning, this is the second highest reported symptom of concern (67%) in patients receiving palliative care.1 A study assessing end-of-life care found that of the 96 patients with an estimated life expectancy under three months, mouth pain was reported by 67%, problems with food intake by 56%, and dry mouth by 78%.2 What is disappointing is that 78% of these patients said that they had received no information about oral adverse effects of cancer treatment.2
In an interview-focused study of 14 palliative care patients, from a mid-sized hospital in regional Australia, it was found that a range of oral problems significantly impacted on their physical, social and psychological well-being to varying degrees, sometimes over extended periods of time.3 The participants reported a lack of oral assessment and virtually no input from dental experts to assist with palliating oral problems.3
These problems are not new. In the 1990s many terminally ill patients were found to have oral problems resulting from therapy and poor oral care during lengthy illnesses. It was suggested that by including a dentist in the palliative care team, the dental needs of dying patients would be likely to be managed more effectively.4
Dental assessments may well identify dental disease, to not only reduce the microbial load, but also decrease the risk of oral pain and infection.5 Including a dentist in the multidisciplinary approach to palliative care may also improve the patient’s ability to speak, eat or swallow.5
Unfortunately, there is no single panacea for oral palliative care. There have been many suggested strategies, based on the limited clinical trial data available.6 Simple mouthwashes using bicarbonate7 may well be as effective as complex, over-the-counter and expensive topical products. These simple mouthwashes will not alleviate pain from dental disease, such as oral candidiasis, periodontal disease, tooth pain or abscesses, however dentists are excellent at dealing with specific physical curative treatment, that often has almost instantaneous results. Examples are the repair of a fractured tooth, the removal of an infected tooth, or the perfection of a smile with dental aesthetics.
