Osteoradionecrosis in the mandible

This week a patient was seen at the practice suffering from osteoradionecrosis of the mandible. This is when the bone and the surrounding soft tissue dies in an area following radiotherapy treatment for cancer of e.g. the jaws, throat, or mouth. 

This type of cancer treatment can produce numerous lifelong problems in the mouth - it is important that patients are seen regularly to ensure that any problems are spotted early. Preventing  potential difficulties is our primary goal, and the best time to do this is BEFORE radiotherapy is undertaken. In this particular case the problem was associated with an infected tooth, which should really have been removed before the radiation treatment had been given for a tonsillar tumor. Unfortunately the patient's dentist was not consulted.

Another problem that can result from radiation exposure is a dry mouth following exposure to the salivary glands. this can be a nuisance in itself, but one severe consequence of the dry mouth is a dramatically increased decay rate; this may then lead to dental infection, the need for extraction, and once again, result in osteoradionecrosis.

Immaculate oral hygiene, regular hygiene visits, and stringent preventative measures are essential. If you want to know more, please call the practice and ask for our information sheets with regards to dental health during chemotherapy and radiotherapy. 

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