Dr. Nick Explains Your Dentist and Cancer Treatment

ANDOVER, Mass. - Nov. 7, 2014 - PRLog -- If you’ve recently received a cancer diagnosis, it’s likely that you have a lot to process as you educate yourself about the nuances of the disease and work with your doctors to devise an appropriate treatment plan. Undoubtedly, you’ll discuss many details of your health care with your doctor. What you may not know is that it’s vital that you also contact your dentist and schedule an appointment as soon as possible – preferably before beginning cancer treatment.

Many cancer treatments can cause side effects, including hair loss, fatigue, and nausea. Some treatments – such as head and neck radiation, certain types of chemotherapy, and even bone marrow transplants – can put patients at particular risk for oral complications. Some of these complications can be painful or dangerous to your overall health.

If possible, you should address concerns about your oral health during cancer treatment before you begin your schedule of treatment. Depending on the type of treatment you will be receiving, your dentist can identify the complications for which you will be most at risk and work to minimize them.

Start by calling your dentist and scheduling an appointment as soon as possible. Explain your situation so that your dentist expects to be working with you in conjunction with your cancer treatment. When you meet with your dentist, he or she will be able to evaluate your current oral health situation and determine whether you have any pressing dental concerns. Should you require any dental procedures or surgeries given your pre-treatment dental health, it is best to schedule them prior to beginning treatment to allow yourself time to heal. Your dentist can also recommend a daily oral health regimen while you are undergoing treatment.

By coordinating with your dentist ahead of embarking on your cancer treatment plan, you’ll be able to ensure a clean bill of dental health prior to receiving medical treatment, thus allowing for rapid identification of any new problems that arise during your course of therapy. Here are a few possible treatment complications that your dentist can look for during treatment and help you address:

       · Increased risk of cavities.

       · Bleeding gums and increased risk of gingivitis.

       ·  Inflammation.

       ·  Infections.

       ·  Persistent dry mouth.

       ·  Poor nutrition due to loss of appetite or difficulty chewing and swallowing.

       · Loss of taste or changes in taste perception.

       · Difficulty speaking.

       · Delays or abnormalities in the dental development of children.

       · Delays in healing of sores in the mouth.

Your dentist can be an active partner with your oncologist and treatment team throughout your cancer therapy. Together, your dentist and doctors can establish a course of action that will not only address your cancer diagnosis, but also ensure your overall health.

Would you like to know more? Visit www.SmileShrewsbury.com, www.smileandover.com, and www.smilesbystiles.com for more information.