Assessing the Impact of Removable Prosthetic Restorations on Nutritional Habits in Edentulous Patients Following Surgery for Head and Neck Cancer

Sep 23, 2026

Head and neck cancers and their surgical management can cause functional impairments that undermine nutrition, including dysphagia, dysgeusia, and reduced masticatory ability. These deficits contribute to nutritional inadequacy, weakened immune responses, and higher rates of post-surgical infections and complications. This study evaluates how removable prosthetic restorations influence nutritional habits in edentulous patients after head and neck cancer surgery, using dietary recall and food frequency assessments over multiple follow-up points.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages18

Reading Time45 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Head and neck cancer burden and risk factors

Functional impairments and nutritional consequences

Materials and Methods

Results

Conclusions

Article Assessing the Impact of Removable Prosthetic Restorations on Nutritional Habits in Edentulous Patients Following Surgery for Head and Neck Cancer Beata Sawczuk 1,*, Suresh Nayar 2, Paweł Szutko 3 and Teresa Sierpi ´nska 1 Academic Editor: Debasis Bagchi Received: 23 March 2025 Revised: 22 April 2025 Accepted: 26 April 2025 Published: 28 April 2025 Citation: Sawczuk, B.; Nayar, S.; Szutko, P.; Sierpi ´nska, T. Assessing the Impact of Removable Prosthetic Restorations on Nutritional Habits in Edentulous Patients Following Surgery for Head and Neck Cancer. Nutrients 2025, 17, 1483. [https://](https://)[ ](https://)[doi.org/10.3390/nu17091483](doi.org/10.3390/nu17091483) [Copyright:](Copyright:) © 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ([https://creativecommons.org/](https://creativecommons.org/)[ ](https://creativecommons.org/)[licenses/by/4.0/](licenses/by/4.0/)) . 1 Department of Prosthodontics, Medical University of Białystok, ul Kili ´nskiego 1, 15-089 Białystok, Poland 2 Institute for Reconstructive Sciences in Medicine, University of Alberta, 1W-02, 16940 87 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5R 4A3, Canada; [snayar@ualberta.ca](snayar@ualberta.ca) 3 Medical University of Białystok, ul Kili ´nskiego 1, 15-089 Białystok, Poland; [pawel.sz2904@gmail.com](pawel.sz2904@gmail.com) * [Correspondence: beata.sawczuk@umb.edu.pl](Correspondence: beata.sawczuk@umb.edu.pl); Tel.: +48-(85)-748-5769 Abstract: Background: Head and neck cancers (HNCs) and their surgical treatment can result in significant functional deficits including impaired masticatory function, dysphagia and dysgeusia, among others. These contribute to nutritional deficits weakening immune responses, increased post-surgical infections and complications. Aim: This study assesses the impact of removable prosthetic restorations on nutritional habits in edentulous patients who have undergone surgery for head and neck cancer. Materials and methods: This study included 44 post-surgical oncology patients and 20 healthy edentulous patients who served as controls. All patients received removable acrylic complete prostheses. Controls received maxillary and mandibular complete prostheses and HNC patients received post-resection complete maxillary and mandibular prostheses. Nutritional intake was assessed through a 24 h dietary recall and the Food Frequency Questionnaire administered before prosthetic treatment and 6 weeks and 3, 6 and 12 months after the provision of removable prosthetic restorations. Results: This study found that both patient groups maintained consistent meal frequency, with the study group exhibiting stable food intake over time. The intake of various food items fluctuated post prosthesis delivery in both groups, with an initial decline followed by partial recovery. Statistically significant differences were observed in food preferences; however, diet variations between and within the groups were not statistically significant. Conclusions: This study found that the use of removable prosthetic restoration in surgically managed edentulous head and neck cancer patients and edentulous controls showed no significant differences apart from certain food preferences and diet variations. A prolonged adaptation period was observed highlighting the need to include clinical dietitians to support the patients. Keywords: nutritional habits; malnutrition; surgical management; head and neck cancer; edentulous 1. Introduction Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the sixth most common malignant neoplasm and accounts for roughly 4.6% of global cancer deaths. Globally, head and neck cancers most often occur in patients after 50 years of age, and they affects men twice more frequently than women [1] . There is a rise in the global incidence of HNC, particularly in younger populations and partly attributed to ch

FAQs

What is the purpose of the study on removable prosthetic restorations?

To assess the impact of removable prosthetic restorations on nutritional habits in edentulous patients after surgery for head and neck cancer.

How were patients' nutritional intake patterns evaluated?

Nutritional intake was assessed using a 24-hour dietary recall and a Food Frequency Questionnaire before prosthetic treatment and at multiple follow-up time points.

What were the main findings regarding nutritional outcomes?

Both groups maintained consistent meal frequency and showed changes in food item intake after prosthesis delivery, with statistically significant differences mainly limited to certain food preferences; overall diet variations were not broadly significant.

Sep 23, 2026

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