[Oral care and oral health during and after cancer treatment]

Abstract

One in two people in the Netherlands will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime and this number is increasing. At the same time, cancer survival has increased. Oral care professionals are therefore seeing more and more people who are being or have been treated for cancer. Cancer treatment increases the risk of temporary and permanent adverse effects in the perioral area, such as hyposalivation, xerostomia, mucositis, infections, pain, medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw, osteoradionecrosis and caries. In addition, myelosuppression can occur, causing patients (often temporarily) to experience neutropenia and thrombocytopenia and therefore to run an increased risk of infection and bleeding. Preventive oral care is very important to limit damage and can be provided in any situation. In the case of interventions creating a large wound and/or bone manipulation, the risk of infection, bleeding, osteoradionecrosis and medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw must be assessed and an adjustment of the oral treatment plan may be necessary (possibly in consultation with the cancer treatment team).