General dental practitioners' views of managing dental disease in adults who have been previously treated with head and neck radiotherapy: a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the views of General Dental Practitioners on management of head and neck cancer patients in primary care, following radiotherapy treatment. METHODS: A sample of fifteen general dental practitioners (GDPs) were recruited to undergo a semi-structured interview with a qualitative researcher using a topic guide. The collected data was then analysed using a thematic analysis. RESULTS: Data was categorised into four major themes- 'Experience and expectations', 'Importance of Communication', 'Preventive Care' and 'Concerns around Dental Extractions'. Providing preventative care and undertaking dental extractions were of most concern to the GDPs. Participants reported feeling isolated and emphasised the importance of effective communication regarding the care of this patient group. A lack of awareness of clinical guidelines and variability in preventative care further compound these difficulties. CONCLUSION: GDPs highlighted barriers to caring for post radiotherapy patients including limited experience, financial disincentives, and inadequate communication from the multidisciplinary hospital-based teams. Addressing these issues through improved communication pathways, enhanced clinical training, and systemic workforce reforms may optimise care delivery for this high-risk patient population. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The findings of this study underscore the need for enhanced clinical training and clearer guidelines to equip GDPs with the skills required for the effective management of post radiotherapy patients in primary care. These resources may help mitigate barriers to care, ultimately reducing the risk of dental complications such as osteoradionecrosis and improving patient outcomes.