Oral Complications of Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer; Knowledge of Dentists in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Radiotherapy for head and neck cancer usually involves a total dose of 6000-7000 cGy, delivered daily in 6-7 weeks, and is known to cause several oral complications. These include oral mucositis, oral pain, insufficient saliva production, increased risk of dental caries, decreased mouth opening, and osteoradionecrosis. This is a cross-sectional study conducted among Saudi dental professionals using an online survey; 463 dentists from Riyadh City were utilized in this study. Findings reported that almost equal numbers of males (51.9%) and females (48.1%) participated in the study; the majority of them were working as general dentists in the government sector. A significantly significant proportion of them thought that oral assessment is a necessity before radiotherapy and that the ideal time for a complete oral evaluation is after the diagnosis of cancer. In the present study, we concluded that the majority of dentists thought that oral assessment is necessary before radiotherapy and that the ideal time is after the diagnosis. The evaluation must include extraction of teeth with poor prognosis, and radiotherapy after oral surgery should be started after 3-4 months. Teeth cleaning was recommended, and most dentists were not confident in treating oral cancer patients.