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Dental care for the cancer patient
Author(s) -
Carl William,
Schaaf Norman G.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.2930060405
Subject(s) - medicine , radiation therapy , oral hygiene , head and neck cancer , cancer , disease , dentistry , intensive care medicine , rehabilitation , chemotherapy , cancer surgery , dental surgery , surgery , physical therapy
In the dental treatment and maintenance of cancer patients the dentist is often confronted with particularly and peculiarly accented situations which require knowledge of disease and therapy‐related problems. Surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and basic disease may present a constellation of conditions which require for their control the efforts of the entire health profession team. Dental care of the irradiated head and neck cancer patient requires close follow‐up and meticulous oral hygiene. There are definite indications for preirradiation extractions, basic rules for maintenance during and after irradiation, and certain precepts for post‐irradiation extractions. Chemotherapy has introduced new considerations in the dental treatment of cancer patients. As most anti‐tumor drugs cause thrombocytopenia, this effect on hemostasis is of great concern when contemplating oral surgery. During the acute phase of hematologic disorders dental maintenance must be limited to atraumatic procedures to control periodontal and pulp involvement. Good oral hygiene plays an important part in the dental maintenance of all patients. Dentists must take an active part in the therapy and rehabilitation of cancer patients.