Study on Oral Cleaning before Cancer Surgery Lacks Bite

The headline read, “Dental care before cancer surgery might be good idea.”

An intriguing concept, one that warranted a closer look. But learning more and more about the results of a recently-released study, the more confounders, underwhelming data and limitations surfaced, and the intrigue I had felt slowly faded to indifference.

The study, titled “Preoperative oral care and effect on postoperative complications after major cancer surgery” and published online in the British Journal of Surgery, came to this conclusion: “Preoperative oral care by a dentist significantly reduced postoperative complications in patients who underwent cancer surgery.”

Source: American Council on Science and Health