title: [Dental care in case of head and neck cancer--Part I: Radiotherapy].
abstract: The dental care because of radiotherapy in case of head and neck cancer should be practiced by skilled dentists. First the residual teeth and the dental restorations have to be cleaned and controlled very well. Radiographs complete examinations. Necessary extractions should consider the later prosthodontic restoration with regard to the financial situation of the patient. Mucosal distractors also useful for fluoridation of the teeth and spreader preventing areas which have not necessarily to be irradiated can be manufactured by the dentist. During irradiation the dentist can help to keep up good oral hygiene. After irradiation a close monitoring may avoid dental destruction and osteoradionecrosis of the jaws. The dentist should recommend strategies to moderate xerostomia and he can subscribe lymphodrainage if necessary. He can survey the opening of the mouth and the fluoridation of the teeth to limit irradiation caries and osteoradionecrosis. In the end the dentist has to reestablish esthetics, phonetics and chewing function by manufacturing dental restorations.
authors.affiliation: Zahnärztliche Tumorsprechstunde, Konsiliarzahnarzt des Universitätsklinikums Ulm, Ulm. elmar.ludwig@uniklinik-ulm.de
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ludwig
mesh_terms: D003729:Dental Care / Q000379:methods*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D009065:Mouth Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods; D052016:Mucositis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010025:Osteoradionecrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010039:Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000517:prevention & control*