title: Prevention of dental diseases following radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
abstract: The general dental practitioner should be aware of the oral changes that take place during chemotherapy and radiotherapy for neoplasms in the head and neck regions. Some of the changes make patients more vulnerable to dental diseases and complications if teeth need to be extracted. Ideally, patients should be made dentally fit before treatment, in order to avoid the risk of extractions later. In the long term, periodontal diseases and caries can be controlled with adequate monitoring and with appropriate use of chlorhexidine and fluoride.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Periodontology, London Hospital Medical College, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Joyston-Bechal
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents