Benefits of the Involvement of Dentists in Managing Oral Complications Among Patients With Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancer: An Analysis of Claims Data

Abstract

PURPOSE: Patients with oral cancer and oropharyngeal cancer frequently develop treatment-related oral complications that negatively affect patients' quality-of-life, cost, and health outcomes. We investigated whether the provider specialty affected the costs and treatment duration of managing oral complications. METHODS: Using deidentified claims from a commercial insurer from 2008 to 2019, we compared costs and duration of common oral complication management between patients whose care included a dentist, with those whose care did not include a dentist. Our primary outcomes were treatment cost and duration. Multivariate linear regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between the primary outcomes and involvement of dentists. Separate analyses were conducted for acute and chronic oral complications. RESULTS: Involvement of dentists in oral complications management resulted in lower costs and shorter treatment duration for acute complications on average. For chronic complications, when dentists were involved, the average cost was higher by $1,672 (USD) (95% CI, 1,124 to 2,219), but the average treatment duration was shorter by 74 days (95% CI, 62 to 84). When complications were acute, dentists’ intervention was beneficial for dentofacial functional abnormalities, disorders of teeth and supporting structures, stomatitis and mucositis (ulcerative), and thrush, in terms of both costs and duration. Among chronic complications, dental caries was the only complication type that resulted in lower cost and shorter treatment duration with dentists’ involvement. CONCLUSION: Oral complications of cancer therapy incur a significant financial and clinical burden. Involvement of dentists results in shorter treatment duration, while lowering the financial burden of care for certain complication types.