Dental follow-up for head and neck cancer patients

an extension report

Abstract

Head and neck cancer currently represents the second highest incidence of cancer in Brazilian men. The treatment of this neoplasia includes surgery, chemotherapy and, mainly, radiotherapy. However, antineoplastic therapy in the head and neck region brings oral complications to patients. The objective of this work was to report the experience of an extension project, in which dental follow-up was performed on patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer, in order to prevent and minimize the oral complications presented. For that, an extension team followed the patients during the previous dental preparation, during the cancer treatment and after its completion. At all of these moments, necessary and possible dental examinations and interventions were performed, oral health guidelines and necessary care during all stages of cancer treatment, in addition to informing companions of possible oral changes that may arise and requesting that they encourage patients to have necessary care at the time in question. The monitoring was beneficial for the patients, since they were able to receive reception and dental monitoring, preventing and minimizing oral complications resulting from cancer treatment, and reinforced the University's bond with the community through actions, in addition to allowing students' academic and personal evolution involved.