J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg.  2010 Dec;36(6):473-480.

The clinical study of oral care for early radiation therapy in the head and neck cancer patients

• Moon WK
• Yoo JH
• Cha IH
• Kim HJ
• Jung YS
• Lee CU
• Lee JY
• Ryn MH

Abstract

INTRODUCTION
Tooth requiring extraction before radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients should be performed as long as possible before the initiation of radiation therapy. Conventionally, a minimum 2-week waiting primary healing period is recommended. Although the above 2-week period is ideal, it is not uncommon for the radiotherapist and cancer patient to feel an urgent need to proceed with radiotherapy despite the need for dental care. Therefore, alternative approaches for early radiotherapy, including conservative endodontic treatment and a 1-week waiting primary healing period after dental extraction at the time of radiotherapy were considered and applied based on a literature review
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The clinical study involved 120 head and neck cancer patients who were treated at Wonju Christian Hospital, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, from January 1995 to December 2004.
RESULTS
In the clinical study, there were no specific complications, such as, post-extraction wound infections, radiation osteitis and osteoradionecrosis over the recent 10 years despite the early radiotherapy.
CONCLUSION
Based on the clinical study, a minimum 1-week waiting primary healing period for oral care before radiotherapy is suitable for early radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients.

Keyword

Head and neck neoplasms; Radiotherapy; Tooth extraction

MeSH Terms

Dental Care
Head
Head and Neck Neoplasms
Humans
Osteitis
Osteoradionecrosis
Tooth
Tooth Extraction
Wound Infection

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