Dental Care

Dental care is an essential part of preparing for treatment. Ask your doctor whether or not you need to see your dentist before starting treatment.

If you have teeth, before you begin head and neck radiation therapy you will need to be examined by a dentist or oral surgeon for a pre-radiation dental evaluation. As your mouth becomes dry following the treatments, you may be at risk for increased cavities. Therefore the dentist will make fluoride carriers for your teeth to use on a daily basis.

If the dentist determines that you need any dental procedures or if you need bad teeth removed, this must to be done prior to initiating radiation therapy because your jaw bone does not heal as well following radiation therapy. It is important to be aware that this may delay starting radiation treatment for up to two weeks to allow time for healing.