Post-Radiation Oral Health in Underserved Head and Neck Cancer Patients

University of California San Francisco (UCSF)

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Head and Neck Carcinoma; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Head and Neck Cancer

Treatments: Other: Interview (Participant); Procedure: Intra-oral photographs; Procedure: Saliva Collection; Device: Fluoride Varnish Treatment; Other: Surveys

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07556367

NCI-2026-02914 (Registry Identifier)

242010

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is a pilot study evaluates the feasibility and outcomes of providing fluoride varnish treatment during routine cancer surveillance visits for post-radiation head and neck cancer patients with limited access to dental care.

Full description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I.To describe the baseline knowledge and access to dental care of underinsured/uninsured head and neck cancer patients treated with radiation at University California of San Francisco (UCSF) and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (ZSFG).

II.To pilot and characterize the feasibility and outcomes of an in-clinic fluoride varnish dental treatment paired with routine cancer surveillance for post-radiation head and neck cancer patients who do not have reliable access to dental care

III.To develop readily accessible patient educational material for dental care after radiation treatment for HNC.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Explore barriers and facilitators to adapting an integrated preventative fluoride intervention into clinical care for HNC patients through qualitative interviews.

II. Co-design patient advocacy materials and a clinician implementation toolkit to provide a framework for adopting this intervention diverse community-based settings

Enrollment: 43 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. >18 years old who are uninsured or underinsured (MediCal, Healthy SF) or have full coverage.
2. Patients who have received immunotherapy or enhanced chemotherapy regimens.
3. Patients or health and dental care providers who are able to provide their own informed written consent.

Exclusion criteria

1. >18 years old.
2. Patients, caregivers, health and dental care providers who are able to provide their own informed written consent.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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43 participants in 2 patient groups

Fluoride Varnish Treatment (Participant)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will received Medicom Duraflor Ultra White 5% Sodium Fluoride varnish treatments during their routine cancer surveillance visits every 3-6 month for about 1 year. During these visits, participants will complete short surveys, provide saliva samples, and have photos taken of their teeth before and after the treatment. Health and dental care providers will also be asked to complete a survey about fluoride treatment delivered.

Treatment:

Other: Surveys

Device: Fluoride Varnish Treatment

Procedure: Intra-oral photographs

Procedure: Saliva Collection

Interview

Other group

Description:

The research team will interviews with participants, caregivers, and healthcare and dental providers.

Treatment:

Other: Interview (Participant)