Managing Oral Complications of Cancer Treatment
The management of patients with cancer before, during, and after treatment presents challenges for oral health professionals. Patients usually present with findings that are either directly related to their cancer (such as leukemia-induced gingival enlargement) or cancer treatment (such as radiation-induced xerostomia). Oral health professionals are charged with developing individualized strategies for managing the oral complications of cancer treatment.
What percentage of patients who start chemotherapy or radiotherapy experience oral health problems?
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Surgery is the most established form of cancer treatment and is commonly used in combination with other interventions.
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Chemotherapy is a useful treatment modality for many cancers, including hairy cell leukemia, choriocarcinoma, acute leukemia, testicular cancer, and nonHodgkin’s lymphoma.
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Assessment includes a comprehensive facial and oral examination that includes which of the following?
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Teeth with a hopeless prognosis (either due to caries, trauma, or periodontal involvement) should not be extracted before the start of cancer treatment.
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Impairment of salivary gland function and subsequent hyposalivation or xerostomia are common complications of cancer treatment (via both radiotherapy and use of cytostatic drugs).
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Cancer patients experience a decreased risk for dental caries during and following treatment.
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Severe periodontal involvement of teeth can also lead to osteonecrosis.
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Managing Oral Complications of Cancer Treatment
Not bad, but there’s room to grow when it comes to understanding how to manage oral complications of cancer treatment. Consider reading more about this important facet of dental hygiene care. Good luck!
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This information is from the article “Oral Effects of Cancer Treatment” by Eswar Kandaswamy, BDS and Purnima S. Kumar, DDS, PhD. To read the article, click here.
