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RADIATION‑INDUCED DENTAL CARIES, PREVENTION AND TREATMENT ‑ A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Dr. Muntaha Tariq, Dr. Lubna Arshad Azam Raja, Dr. Tayyaba Irum

The treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC) involves radiotherapy. Patients undergoing radiotherapy for HNC are prone to dental complications. Radiotherapy in the head and neck area leads to xerostomia and salivary gland disorders, which greatly increase the risk of dental caries and its consequences. Radiotherapy (RT) also affects hard tooth tissue by increasing its susceptibility to demineralization after RT. Radiation caries is a rapidly developing and highly destructive type of dental caries. Radiation-related caries and other hard tissue changes can occur within the first 3 months after RT. Therefore, all efforts should be directed towards prevention to treat patients with severe caries. This can be achieved by a good preoperative dental treatment, frequent dental examination and follow-up treatment (excluding extractions) and consistent home-based care with self-applied fluoride. A reparative management of caries by radiation can be difficult. When restorative materials are selected, the dentist to be restored must take into account the altered tooth substrate and a hostile oral environment. Radiation-induced changes of the enamel and dentin may affect the adhesion of adhesive materials. As a result, it has been shown that glass ionomer cements are a better alternative to composite resins in irradiated patients. Patient consultation before and after radiotherapy can be performed to alert them to complications.Radiotherapy and therefore can help prevent it.

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