The role of primary dental care practitioners in the long-term management of patients treated for head and neck cancer

Abstract

Patients treated for head and neck cancer may be susceptible to a higher incidence of dental disease due to long-term sequelae of treatment for head and neck cancer. Most patients with head and neck cancer are discharged from a hospital environment and responsibility for long-term dental care is transferred back from the restorative dentistry team to the dentist and dental care professionals in primary care. Treatment of these patients should be undertaken in a supportive environment, taking into account the physical and psychological repercussions of previous treatment. With the exception of some surgical procedures, routine dental care is not contraindicated in patients after head and neck cancer treatment and it is expected that the dentist and dental care professionals will be responsible for long-term routine dental treatment. Primary dental care practitioners should be aware of the process to refer patients back to the head and neck cancer multidisciplinary team if they note a suspicious change during their routine clinical examinations. Referral to a restorative dentistry consultant for planning and carrying out complex items of care may sometimes be necessary, but patients should always remain under the long-term care of their primary dental care practitioner.