Dr. Nick Explains Oral Complications from Cancer Treatment: What Your Dentist Can Do to Help

ANDOVER, Mass. - Nov. 25, 2014 - PRLog -- If you’ve received a cancer diagnosis, your oncologist will work with you to develop a treatment program to best combat the disease. Your treatment may include a variety of therapies, from surgery to medication. Cancer treatments like radiation and chemotherapy can have a wide array of side effects, and some of these effects can involve oral complications. Fortunately, your dentist can help you manage any such difficulties that arise during treatment.

Oral complications during cancer treatment vary widely in nature and severity. If your malignancy is in your head or neck, such complications are quite likely, but even if you are fighting cancer in another part of your body, treatments you receive may have an oral impact.. Both radiation and chemotherapy can affect salivary flow and cause dry mouth, which can lead to the development of cavities. They can also damage mucosa, leading to inflammation, pain, and even infections. A patient’s sense of taste can be altered, and eating difficulties may result in decreased nutrition.

Because chemotherapy can impair the formation of blood cells, patients undergoing such treatment may experience an increase in dental bleeding resulting from decreased platelet production. Another complication that may arise is neurotoxicity, a deep, aching pain that feels like a toothache even when no dental cause can be identified.

Radiation treatment may also trigger a variety of complications, including an increased lifelong risk of cavities. The reduction of muscle elasticity sometimes caused by radiation may also affect the ability to open the mouth. Bone necrosis is another risk.

As soon as you receive your initial cancer diagnosis, it’s important to contact your dentist to schedule a pretreatment appointment. At this appointment, your dentist will address any existing dental problems and schedule any necessary oral surgery that needs to be completed prior to the onset of your treatment regimen. He or she will discuss possible problems that may arise during your course of treatment so that you can be prepared for the risks and watch for warning signs. At this appointment, you should share your treatment plan with your dentist, who may then choose to communicate directly with your medical care providers.

During your treatment, your dentist will continue to monitor your oral health. He or she can offer therapies designed to mitigate oral pain or discomfort and screen you for potential oral infections that might occur and spread systemically. Your dentist will work with your oncologist in order to deliver the best possible care during your treatment.

Your dentist is your best resource for oral care throughout your cancer treatment. He or she can provide instructions about a daily cleaning regimen and prescribe supplemental fluoride if necessary. There are also measures that you can take if you suffer from dry mouth, and your dentist can discuss these with you. And at the conclusion of your cancer treatment, your dentist can provide you with information on ongoing oral care specific to your situation so that you will be able to maintain your oral health.

Partnering with your dentist while you are undergoing treatment for cancer will allow you to stay on top of your oral health. Making sure to address this aspect of your health will ensure that once you have completed your treatment, your mouth will remain as healthy as possible despite any complications.

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