Delayed damage after radiation therapy for head and neck cancer

Abstract

I investigated radiation damage including osteoradionecrosis arising from tooth extraction in irradiated fields after radiation therapy for head and neck cancer and evaluated the effectiveness of pilocarpine for xerostomia.Using preoperative radiographs, it was found that prevention of damage to the bone following tooth extraction after radiation exposure was related to administration of antibiotics the day before the extraction, and depended on whether forceps were used and whether the tooth was in the field of radiation.Pilocarpine improved saliva production and relieved symptoms of xerostomia after radiation therapy for head and neck cancer.This information can be used to improve the oral environment of patients who have received radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, and to elevate understanding of their oral environment.