ArticleOdontology2026
Longitudinal periodontal deterioration and salivary dysfunction following head and neck radiotherapy: a prospective multicenter cohort study.
Article in Odontology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Head and neck radiotherapy (RT) may induce persistent alterations in periodontal tissues, salivary gland function, and dental integrity, thereby contributing to progressive oral disease in head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors. However, comprehensive longitudinal evidence integrating periodontal, salivary, and dental outcomes remains limited. To evaluate longitudinal changes in periodontal health, salivary function, dental outcomes, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) during the first year following RT. This prospective multicenter cohort study included 98 patients with HNC receiving external-beam RT. Clinical attachment level (CAL), probing pocket depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BOP), gingival index, unstimulated salivary flow rate, xerostomia severity, radiation-associated caries, and OHRQoL were assessed at baseline, end of RT, and 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up visits. Longitudinal analyses were performed using mixed-effects regression models. Eighty-eight participants completed the 12-month follow-up. Mean CAL increased from 2.30 to 3.02 mm (p < 0.001), while PPD, BOP, and gingival index values also increased significantly over time. Mean unstimulated salivary flow rate decreased from 0.36 to 0.15 mL/min (p < 0.001), accompanied by worsening xerostomia severity. Radiation-associated caries developed in 76.1% of participants and tooth loss occurred in 30.6% during follow-up. Mean OHIP-14 scores increased from 23.44 to 44.44 (p < 0.001). Higher salivary flow independently reduced the likelihood of radiation-associated caries development (OR = 0.78, p = 0.009). Head and neck RT was associated with progressive periodontal deterioration, salivary gland dysfunction, increased radiation-associated dental disease, and impaired OHRQoL during 12 months of follow-up. These findings support the need for longitudinal preventive oral healthcare in HNC survivors.
Indexed as
Identifiers
42518055What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.