Dentistry’s Role in Palliative Care Rests on One Aging Definition

The role of dentistry in palliative care remains poorly defined, according to a scoping review published in Supportive Care in Cancer. Although oral health is increasingly recognized as an important component of care for people with advanced illness, the study found that existing definitions in the scientific literature draw almost entirely on a single source and fall short of contemporary palliative care principles.

The review followed Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. The authors searched MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase from inception to May 5, 2026, and included sources that explicitly defined the role of dentistry in palliative care. Two reviewers independently screened records and extracted data using a standardized charting form, and the findings were synthesized with descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis.

Of 1454 records screened, only 12 sources met the inclusion criteria. Two terms appeared in the literature, with “Palliative Care Dentistry” used most commonly, in 92 percent of the included sources. Eleven of the definitions were derived, directly or indirectly, from a foundational definition published by Wiseman in 2000, meaning the field’s conceptual basis has remained largely unchanged for more than two decades.

The definitions consistently described care for patients with progressive, advanced, or terminal disease whose oral cavity was affected by the disease or its treatment, with quality of life as the principal goal. However, the review identified consistent gaps. None of the definitions explicitly specified care settings or interdisciplinary collaboration, and most limited the scope of practice to management-oriented activities. Only one definition included prevention.

According to the authors, existing definitions do not fully reflect contemporary palliative care principles, particularly regarding prevention, interdisciplinary care, patient-centered decision-making, and management of pre-existing oral conditions. The review concludes that a consensus-based definition is needed to clarify the field and guide future research, education, and practice.

The study is a scoping review of published definitions rather than an assessment of clinical outcomes, so it maps how the field describes itself rather than evaluating the effectiveness of dental interventions in palliative populations. Its findings are limited to the 12 sources that met the inclusion criteria across the four databases searched.

Subject of Research: A scoping review of published definitions of the role of dentistry in palliative care.

Article Title: What is the role of dentistry in palliative care? A scoping review of existing definitions

Article References: Rodríguez-Oria, F., Moreno Alarcón, C., Santana Ojeda, C., Ortuño Borroto, D., Marín-Márquez, C., & Celis Sersen, A. (2026). What is the role of dentistry in palliative care? A scoping review of existing definitions. Supportive Care in Cancer, 34(11), Article 1164. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-026-11411-5

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s00520-026-11411-5

Keywords: palliative care, dentistry, oral health, scoping review, definitions, quality of life, interdisciplinary care, prevention, terminal illness, Wiseman definition, role, palliative