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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Journal of Health and Allied Sciences NU 2018; 08(04): 028-033
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1708771
Review Article

Radiation induced caries: An overview

Mithra N Hegde
1   Head of the Department, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, A B Shetty Memorial institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte deemed to be university, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India.
,
Ananiya John
2   Post Graduate Student, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, A B Shetty Memorial institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte deemed to be university, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India.
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Abstract

Amongst all the different varieties of cancers diagnosed across the world around 6% is found to be head and neck cancer and radiotherapy is the choice of treatment. Head and neck radiotherapy cause several changes in dentition, saliva, oral microflora and food habits of the patient thus increasing the risk of radiation-induced dental caries a common, yet serious complication. This paper analyses the literature pertaining to radiation-induced caries and discusses the predisposing factors, etiology, structural changes in the tooth, clinical features of radiation caries and management. To review this, the Pubmed and Scopus database was searched using the keywords “radiation-induced caries”, “xerostomia”, “effects of radiology” and “head and neck tumors”, “osteoradionecrosis”, “management of radiation caries”, “structural changes in teeth after radiotherapy”, “prevention of radiation caries”. Radiation caries is a rampant form of caries commonly seen within the first 3 months after the radiotherapy. Thus, early dynamic involvement of the dentist in the preventive and therapeutic strategies are important. Furthermore, educating and motivating patients about the risk factors, maintenance of oral hygiene, stimulation of salivary flow, fluoride use, and nutritional orientation are essential to decrease the incidence of radiation caries and eventually enhances the quality of life of patients.

Keywords

Radiotherapy - caries - head and neck cancer - xerostomia - fluoride


Publication History

Received: 02 November 2018

Accepted: 15 November 2018

Article published online:
21 April 2020

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