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A dental protocol for patients receiving radiation therapy for cancer of the head and neck
Author(s) -
ENGELMEIER ROBERT L.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
special care in dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.328
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1754-4505
pISSN - 0275-1879
DOI - 10.1111/j.1754-4505.1987.tb00600.x
Subject(s) - medicine , radiation oncologist , head and neck cancer , radiation therapy , radiation therapist , head and neck , protocol (science) , radiation treatment planning , medical physics , medical emergency , physical therapy , intensive care medicine , family medicine , surgery , alternative medicine , pathology
Summary Dentists have a definite place on oncology teams and tumor planning boards, especially when a patient with head and neck cancer is to be treated with radiation therapy. In many instances, the dentist can support these patients more than any other health care professional. Besides fabricating appliances to support the radiotherapist, the dentist can make a wide variety of appliances to make the patient more comfortable. With a regular recall system he or she can intercept and treat the complications of head and neck radiation therapy as early as possible. The dentist can provide these patients with the information they need to understand and prevent the complications of radiation therapy. To accomplish this task, the dental oncologist requires good records from the oncologist including diagnosis, radiation dose and fields, prognosis, and other treatments planned. The dentist also needs the support of the medical and administrative staff members.