Dental Treatment Planning for the Patient with Oral Cancer

Abstract

Oral cancer therapy is associated with a multitude of head and neck sequelae that includes, but is not limited to, hyposalivation, increased risk for dental caries, osteoradionecrosis of the jaw, radiation fibrosis syndrome, mucositis, chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, dysgeusia, dysphagia, mucosal lesions, trismus, and infections. Preparing a comprehensive treatment plan for patients undergoing cancer therapy is essential to help minimize their risks for developing these oral and dental complications. In addition, dentists must take into account a patient's ongoing oncologic therapy for those patients who present to the dentist while concurrently receiving cancer treatment.

Keywords: Chemotherapy; Dental care for oral cancer; Dental oncology; Head and neck radiation therapy; Oral cancer.