How do you counsel patients receiving head and neck radiation regarding its impact on both existing and future dental work?

We send any patient who is having any portion of the maxilla or mandible to their primary dentist for an evaluation. If there is anything other than a simple restoration, we refer patient to a set of oral surgeons we work with for evaluation.

They ensure any pre XRT dental root work is completed and...

Extract teeth likely to require future extraction if in field (>50Gy) and fluoride trays. Ask whether fluoride trays are being used at followups. Dental checks q 3-6 months.

We send everyone for dental evaluation. Post-radiation xerostomia the first year can accelerate dental decay, so it is important for patients to be plugged in with their dentist or oral surgeon for more frequent cleanings and fluoride trays.

Moreover, it is always a good idea to have them evaluated ...

I agree with the above comments. All patients receiving >50Gy to the mandible or maxilla get sent for evaluation. Anyone dealing with head and neck malignancies needs to understand the importance of dental evaluation prior to treatment. Patients should preferably see a dental oncologist, but a gener...

How do you counsel patients who may want dental implants in the future, post radiation to mandible? Do you tell them it is more risky, or is there any data at all?