Masticatory function and related factors after oral oncological treatment: A 5‐year prospective study

• Published in: Head & neck Vol. 41; no. 1; pp. 216 - 224
• Main Authors: Groot, Reilly J., Wetzels, Jan‐Willem, Merkx, Matthias A.W., Rosenberg, Antoine J.W.P., Haan, Anton F.J., Bilt, Andries, Abbink, Jan H., Speksnijder, Caroline M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-01-2019; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Aged; bite force; Case-Control Studies; Chewing; Dental Occlusion; Dentition, Permanent; Dentures; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Head & neck cancer; Head and neck; head and neck neoplasms; Humans; Male; Mastication; Mastication - physiology; Middle Aged; mixed model analysis; Mouth Neoplasms - physiopathology; Mouth Neoplasms - therapy; Oral cancer; Original; Patients; prospective cohort; Prospective Studies; Recovery of Function - physiology; head and neck neoplasms; mixed model analysis; prospective cohort; bite force; mastication
• ISSN: 1043-3074; 1097-0347
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.25445

Background
Chewing ability is often compromised in patients with oral cancer. The aim of this study was to identify which factors affect masticatory performance in these patients.
Methods
Patients with primary oral cancer were assessed for up to 5 years after primary treatment. Healthy controls were assessed once. A mixed‐model analysis was performed, with masticatory performance as outcome measure.
Results
A total of 123 patients were included in the study. Factors positively associated with masticatory performance were number of occlusal units (OU), having functional dentures, and maximum mouth opening (MMO). The impact of tumor location and maximum bite force (MBF) differed per assessment moment. Masticatory performance declined for up to 1 year but recovered at 5 years after treatment.
Conclusion
Masticatory performance in patients treated for oral cancer is affected by MBF, MMO, number of OU, and dental status. These should be the focus of posttreatment therapy.