The Side Effects of Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy Treatment on the Oral Tissue and Teeth, Prevention and Dental Intervention

Abstract

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment cause multiple oral side effects that impair the patient's quality of life. The most common oral side effect is mucositis, infections, salivary gland dysfunction, taste disturbance, osteoradionecrosis, Temporomandibular joint disorder, gingival bleeding, and generalized oral pain. This complication may be acute (short-term) occur during treatment and then resolve after treatment is stopped, or chronic (long-lasting) continue or appear months to years after treatment doses end, and may be caused by the treatment itself (directly) or by the side effects of the treatment (indirectly).

To manage the chemotherapy radiotherapy oral complications the oncologist will work closely with a dentist, if the oral complications become severe the treatment doses need to be decreased or stopped, after consultation with the oncologist.