More than one million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer each year, and about 40 percent will develop serious mouth problems as the result of head and neck radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Severe oral complications, such as the patient's inability to eat and drink, often force doctors to delay or stop the radiation treatment.

To give patients their best chance to fight cancer, the dentist must be added to the cancer treatment team and the patient must visit the dentist before beginning radiation therapy, according to a new report in the November/December 2003 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry's (AGD) clinical, peer-reviewed journal.

The goal of head and neck radiation is to kill cancer cells while limiting damage to adjacent healthy tissue and structures like salivary glands, jawbones and tissues lining the mouth. However, damage to healthy tissue is unavoidable.

During treatment, the dentist can work with the patient to monitor any changes in their mouth that may occur, such as dry mouth, increased cavities and painful mouth sores.

"The less oral problems a patient experiences, the more likely the patient will stay on the treatment program," says Bruce Burton, DMD, MAGD, ABGD, AGD spokesperson.

"Schedule a visit with the dentist one month before starting radiation," advises Jody S. Harrison, DDS, lead report author. "Doing so may help prevent serious complications."

Oral complications from neck and head radiation

• Dry mouth

• Cavities

• Oral yeast infections

• Taste loss

• Inflammation and ulceration of mouth lining

• Non-healing wounds

• Limited mouth opening

• Nutritional deficiencies

Pretreatment strategies for cancer patients

• Contact a general dentist for examination before therapy begins

'"/>

Contact: Susan Urbanczyk
susanu@agd.org
312-440-4308
Academy of General Dentistry
10-Dec-2003


Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. Finances, not having a dentist are primary barriers to seniors receiving needed dental care
2. Forensic dentistry key in identifying victims of tsunamis, other disasters
3. Hypertension: On the Pill? Tell your dentist
4. Celebrities are root cause of rush to dentist
5. Neutraceuticals...coming soon to a dentist near you?
6. Seizure prone? Tell your dentist
7. Digital microscopes for dentistry course
8. Physicians and dentists play important role in smoking practices of the elderly
9. UCSF study finds shortage of California dentists in rural, poor, minority communities
10. UCSF study finds many areas in California have a dentist shortage
11. Mitral valve repair at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center gets Los Angeles dentist on the road to recovery