title: [Radiation-related caries: etiology and possible preventive strategies. What should the radiotherapist know?].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  After radiation treatment of head-and-neck cancer, the impairment of patient's quality of life still remains an issue. After completion of the treatment course, a substantial number of patients develop so-called radiation caries. In addition, almost 50% of all cases of infectious osteoradionecrosis (iORN) of the jaws are directly associated with radiation caries. This review addresses our current knowledge on the etiology and pathogenesis of radiation caries including possible preventive strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A PubMed search using the terms "radiation caries" ("radiation related caries", "radiation related damage to dentition") and "radiogenic caries" ("postradiation caries", "dental complications and radiotherapy") was performed. The analysis of its content focused on the etiology, the pathogenesis, and the available knowledge on prophylaxis as well as treatment of radiation caries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For this review, 60 publications were selected. As main causal factors for radiogenic caries, either indirect impairment, resulting from alterations in the oral environment (e.g., radiation-induced xerostomia) or direct radiation-induced damage in teeth hard tissues are discussed. Radiation caries remains a lifelong threat and, therefore, requires permanent prevention programs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To enable optimal medical care of the patients during the time course of radiotherapy as well as afterwards, close interdisciplinary cooperation between radiotherapists, oral surgeons, otorhinolaryngologists, and dentists is absolutely essential.
authors.affiliation: Universitätspoliklinik für Prothetik, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle-Wittenberg, Deutschland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schweyen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hey
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fränzel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vordermark
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hildebrandt
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuhnt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000528:radiation effects; D010039:Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated; D012307:Risk Factors; D014070:Tooth / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014071:Tooth Abnormalities / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology