Dental Assessment of Patients with Head-Neck Cancer Prior to Anticancer Therapy: Review of 35 Cases

Purpose: Head and neck cancer therapy including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy may lead to acute and chronic complications of such as alterations in taste, oral mucositis, hyposalivation, radiation induced dental caries, trismus, delayed wound healing and osteoradionecrosis. The aim of our study is to compare the oral situation of patients, before and after treatment and emphasize the importance of the dental evaluation due to prevent and / or minimize of these complications. Material and Methods: In this study, the evaluation of 35 patients with primary head and neck tumors who had applied to our clinic between October 2006 and November 2007 for the oral health care consultation, dental treatments, and the 16,9-month follow-up results were reported. Results: All patients were treated periodontaly for dental arrangement of patients before oncology therapy. In addition, conservative restorations in a total of 28 teeth of 9 patients, fixed dentures in 9 patients, moving prosthetic applications in 13 patients were performed. Conclusion: Dental arrangements to do before oncology treatment, ongoing regular follow-up during and after treatment will minimize the problems of oral health after cancer treatment and increase quality of life.