The Dentist in Palliative Care - Addressing Oral Health for Holistic End-of-Life Support

Sep 30, 2026

Palliative care dentistry focuses on managing oral health in patients with progressive, far-advanced illnesses where oral tissues are affected by disease or treatment. As part of a multidisciplinary palliative care team, the dentist improves quality of life through symptom control and support of oral function. With demographic change and longer life expectancy, palliative dental care demand is projected to rise sharply, making interdisciplinary care essential to uphold dignity, comfort, and oral outcomes during end-of-life stages.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

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Abstract

Introduction

Improving Oral Comfort: The Essential Role of Dental Expression in Palliative Care

Oral Challenges and Symptom Management in Palliative Patients

Mucositis and Stomatitis

Original Research The Dentist in Palliative Care: Addressing Oral Health for Holistic End‑of‑Life Support Payal Tripathi1, Shubham Patel2, Evolina Dutta3, Sakshi3, Bukanakere Sangappa Sunila4, Ganiga Channaiah Shivakumar5 1Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Saraswati Dental College and Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, People’s College of Dental Sciences and Research Center, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, 3Department of General Dentistry, Saraswati Dental College and Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, 4Department of Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge, JSS Dental College and Hospital, JSS Academy of Higher Education, and Research, Mysuru, Karnataka, India, 5Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, People’s College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, People’s University, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India Submitted: 24‑Jul‑2025 Revised: 08‑Aug‑2025 Accepted: 13‑Aug‑2025 Published: 17‑Dec‑2025 Abstract Palliative care dentistry involves the management of oral health in patients with progressive, far‑advanced diseases, where the oral cavity is compromised either by the illness or its treatment. As a member of the multidisciplinary palliative care team, the dentist plays a crucial but often overlooked role in enhancing patients’quality of life. With changing demographics and longer life expectancies, the demand for palliative dental care is expected to rise significantly—from 5,20,000 to 1.4 million people by 2031. An interdisciplinary approach that includes dental professionals is essential in delivering holistic palliative care that upholds dignity, comfort, and oral function during end‑of‑life stages. Keywords: Dentistry, oral health, palliative care, quality of life, xerostomia Introduction alliative care dentistry is Pprevention, diagnosis, and concerned with the management of oral complications arising directly from terminal diseases or as side effects of their treatment.[1] Dentists play a vital role in managing conditions such as xerostomia, mucositis, candidiasis, dental caries, and prosthetic needs, which can otherwise compromise oral function and patient dignity. With a multidisciplinary team approach being essential in palliative care, dental practitioners serve as “healing | Access this article online | | | --- | --- | | Quick Response Code:
| Website: [https://journals.lww.com/jpbs](https://journals.lww.com/jpbs) | | | DOI: 10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_1284_25 | hands” by ensuring oral comfort and improving self‑esteem in terminally ill patients.[2] Furthermore, changing demographics and advancements in healthcare are increasing the demand for dentists with expertise in managing the oral manifestations of systemic disease. Address for correspondence: Dr. Ganiga Channaiah Shivakumar, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, People’s College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, People’s University, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. E-mail: [shiva21375@gmail.com](shiva21375@gmail.com) This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License (CC BY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal. For reprints [contact:](contact: WKHLRPMedknow_reprints@wolterskluwer.com)[ WKHLRPMedknow_reprints@wolterskluwer.com](contact: WKHLRPMedknow_reprints@wolterskluwer.com) How to cite this article: Tripathi P, Patel S, Dutta E, Sakshi, Sunila BS, Shivakumar GC. The dentist in palliative care: Addressing oral health for holistic end‑of‑life support. J Pharm Bioall Sci 2025;17:S3223‑5. © 2025 Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences | Published by Wolters Kluwer-Medknow S3223 This article reviews the literature on the emerging and essential role of dentists in palliative care teams and highlights th

FAQs

How can palliative patients’ oral health be screened in elderly populations?

For elderly patients, the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) is described as a valuable screening tool to evaluate and monitor oral health status.

Sep 30, 2026

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