Dental Care in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy.
Jyotiman NathPunit Kumar SinghGautam SarmaPublished in: Indian journal of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery : official publication of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India (2021)
External beam radiotherapy is an integral part of the management of head and neck cancer. Radiotherapy for head and neck cancer lead to many treatment-related toxicities, including a wide range of dental morbidities. These complications depend on the various patient and treatment-related factors. Patients with poor oral hygiene, pre-existing periodontal disease, and the conventional mode of radiotherapy delivery are major factors leading to acute and severe late dental problems. Most of the complications are preventable with proper oral and dental care before, during and after radiotherapy. Pre radiotherapy dental evaluation to diagnose patients with potential risk and timely intervention can reduce long-term morbidities like carries, osteoradionecrosis, etc., thereby improving patients' quality of life. This article highlights the various aspects of dental care and management in head neck cancer patients before, during and after radiation therapy.
Keyphrases
- radiation therapy
- early stage
- locally advanced
- oral health
- radiation induced
- healthcare
- patients undergoing
- palliative care
- quality improvement
- randomized controlled trial
- emergency department
- mental health
- newly diagnosed
- risk factors
- pain management
- early onset
- intensive care unit
- prognostic factors
- liver failure
- case report
- respiratory failure
- extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
- smoking cessation
- acute respiratory distress syndrome
- patient reported
- human health
- mechanical ventilation