Don't forget the dentist: Dental care use and needs of women with breast cancer

- Women with breast cancer use less dental care services than warranted.
- More counselling about dental risks due to anti-cancer treatments is recommended.
- Dental problems should be monitored, especially after chemotherapy.
- Women with a clinical level of distress may also have higher dental care needs.
- Affordable solutions for those without dental insurance should be discussed.

PurposePatients with breast cancer may develop dental problems due to treatment. We examined the prevalence of their dental care use and needs, compared the prevalence of use with that of the general population, and examined which factors predict patients' dental care use.MethodsPatients with primary breast cancer completed a questionnaire at 6 and 15 months post-diagnosis. Medical data were retrieved from medical records. The prevalence of dental care use and needs was examined with descriptive analyses. Associations between predictors and dental care use were examined with multivariate analyses.ResultsTwenty-one percent of 746 participants visited their dentist at least once in the past three months at 6 months, and 23% at 15 months post-diagnosis. The estimated percentage of women with at least one contact with their dentist in 12 months was low compared to the general female population (31.9% versus 79.5%). One to two percent of the respondents wanted more contact. Having dental care insurance (odds ratio 1.80; 95% CI, 1.08-3.00), chemotherapy (odds ratio 1.93; 95% CI, 1.21-3.06), and clinical distress 6 months post-diagnosis (odds ratio 2.53; 95% CI, 1.70-3.79) predicted use of dental care 9 months later.ConclusionsUp to 15 months post-diagnosis, breast cancer patients' dental care use is lower than warranted. Oncologists and cancer nurses are recommended to inform patients about dental risks, and to encourage them - particularly those without insurance - to visit their dentist. Occurrence of dental problems should be monitored, especially in patients who receive chemotherapy or who are clinically distressed.