Dental management of head and neck cancer patients.

In the management of head and neck cancer, dentistry has an important supportive role. Many anatomical and functional changes caused by surgery for the removal of intraoral tumors can be corrected or improved upon by prosthetic dentistry. The control of dental pathology contributes to the immediate and long-term success of tumor treatment and facilitates rehabilitation. Radiotherapy and loss of teeth do not go hand in hand. Many oral complications associated with radiotherapy can now be avoided or controlled with early preventive and restorative measures. Patients receiving systemic chemotherapy often develop oral complications that require particular attention by the primary physician and the dentist. Control of dental pathology is important in patients receiving chemotherapy because of reduced immune mechanism and increased bleeding tendencies.