Dental care for a patient treated for oral cancer, and the reconstruction that followed.
Cancer treatment in the head and neck area, including radiotherapy and chemotherapy, can affect the mouth, the teeth and the jawbone. Because of this, dental care is planned alongside the medical treatment, before it begins, during it, and once it is over. This video looks at how the dental team works together with the oncology team to support the patient at each stage.
Radiotherapy and chemotherapy affect the tissues of the mouth. Saliva production can fall, the gums become more fragile, and the healing capacity of the jawbone is reduced. These effects make dental assessment part of the wider treatment plan rather than a separate matter.
A full dental examination is carried out before radiotherapy starts. Sources of infection are treated and teeth that could become problematic are dealt with in advance, because extractions performed after irradiation carry a higher risk of complications in the treated area.
Once oncological treatment is complete and the tissues have stabilised, rehabilitation can be considered. The approach depends on what remains, on the area treated, and on close coordination with the medical team following the patient.
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