The dental management of patients irradiated for head and neck cancer

Patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancers are prone to a range of dental complications, including mucositis, trismus, xerostomia, radiation caries and osteoradionecrosis. Specific considerations include the preventive, restorative and rehabilitative management of such patients, and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British dental journal 2023-06, Vol.234 (11), p.800-804
Main Authors: Goh, Elizabeth Z., Beech, Nicholas, Johnson, Nigel R., Batstone, Martin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cancer therapies
Clinical
Dental Care
Dental caries
Dental Caries - etiology
Dental Caries - prevention & control
Dental insurance
Dentistry
Dentists
Edentulous
Exocrine glands
Head & neck cancer
Head and Neck Neoplasms - complications
Head and Neck Neoplasms - radiotherapy
Health care access
Humans
Mucositis
Multidisciplinary teams
Oral hygiene
Osteoradionecrosis
Osteoradionecrosis - etiology
Osteoradionecrosis - prevention & control
Patients
Prevention
Radiation Injuries - complications
Radiation Injuries - prevention & control
Radiation therapy
Teeth
Transplants & implants
Trauma
Xerostomia
Xerostomia - complications
Xerostomia - therapy
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Summary:Patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancers are prone to a range of dental complications, including mucositis, trismus, xerostomia, radiation caries and osteoradionecrosis. Specific considerations include the preventive, restorative and rehabilitative management of such patients, and the prevention and treatment of complications. This article aims to highlight the current understanding and management of dental needs for patients who have had or will undergo radiotherapy. Key points Patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancers are prone to a range of dental complications, including mucositis, trismus, xerostomia, radiation caries and osteoradionecrosis. The multidisciplinary team plays a central role in the preventive, restorative and rehabilitative management of irradiated head and neck cancer patients. Further research is required to support decisions around pre-radiotherapy extractions, implant placement in irradiated bone, and the treatment and prevention of osteoradionecrosis.
ISSN:0007-0610
1476-5373
DOI:10.1038/s41415-023-5864-z