Narges Mirjalili
Arad Dental Polyclinics, Iran
Title: The supportive oral measures preceding radiation therapy in patients diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Biography
Biography: Narges Mirjalili
Abstract
We all know that one of the main causes of death world wide is head and neck cancer. As the incidence of cancer patients are increasing, dentists have a higher chance of visiting such patients at their offices. Radiation to the head and neck region, especially in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, has serious adverse effects on oral and dental health. Despite advanced radiation methods, such as intensity modulated radiation therapy: IMRT, and the use of protective drugs, such as Amifostine, the burden of radition-related consequences in the patients with head and neck carcinomas is yet significant. There are some simple measures that, if be taken at the proper time, can reduce the negative effects of ionizing radiation on the oral hard and soft tissues, particularly salivary glands and teeth. The following steps, with known mechanisms, will be beneficial to the patients and will enhance their quality of life during and after radiation therapy period. 1- Elimination of all the sources of oral infections 2- Hydration 3- In-office fluoride therapy 4- Home use of Xylitol mouth wash 5- Frequent stimulation of salivary glands by mechanical and chemical methods These five simple and non-expensive steps not only soothe the severity of immediate radiation-induced consequences, such as mucositis, but also reduce the magnitude of post-radiation effcts, such as dry mouth and apple-core tooth decays.