ORAL MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS UNDERGOING RADIATION THERAPY

Course overview

RADIOTHERAPY IS A WIDELY USED TREATMENT MODALITY FOR MANAGING CARCINOMAS IN THE HEAD AND NECK REGION, EITHER ALONE OR COMBINED WITH CHEMOTHERAPY. ALTHOUGH EFFECTIVE IN MANAGING MALIGNANCIES, RADIOTHERAPY INDUCES UNDESIRABLE SIDE EFFECTS IN THE ORAL CAVITY. SOME DEVELOP SOON AFTER INITIATING TREATMENT, AND OTHERS MAY APPEAR AFTER MONTHS OR EVEN YEARS OF COMPLETION OF TREATMENT. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE DENTIST'S ROLE IN EVALUATING AND MANAGING PATIENTS BEFORE, DURING, AND POST-RADIATION THERAPY AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN IMPROVING CARE FOR PATIENTS UNDERGOING RADIATION THERAPY.