Effects of chemotherapy on oral mucosa

Abstract

Cancer leads to several oral and dental complications arise during the course of a malignant condition, oral or non-oral. These are largely due to the direct effect of cancer but may also result from the complication of treatment modality undertaken to cure the malignancy. This article elaborates on complications of the chemotherapeutic agents, which when employed to combat cancerous cells, may target the host cells. The oral complications of such a therapy results in several conditions like oral mucositis, infections, hemorrhage, salivary alterations, dysgeusia, lichenoid reactions amongst others. Thus, an in-depth understanding of these complications is a must in order to provide better care for an already frail and ailing patient.