Dental management of chemoradiation patients

The utilization of combined chemoradiation therapy has recently increased in the treatment of head and neck cancers. This patient population is significantly more prone to various oral complications during and after medical therapy. Oral complications and long-term effects include mucositis, xerostomia, alterations in taste, vascular compromise, mucosal thinning and increased risk of rampant caries and periodontal disease. The most serious oral complication that can arise is osteoradionecrosis. Managing patients properly prior to medical treatment can help decrease these potential complications during and after treatment. This purpose of this article is to review the different radiation and chemotherapy regimens used to treat patients with head and neck cancers, as well as protocols in the dental management of these patients before, during, and after medical treatment.