[New insights into oral preparation before radiotherapy affecting the oral cavity].

PURPOSE: Radiotherapy, when it affects the oral cavity, can cause various side-effects and may even lead to more severe complications such as osteoradionecrosis. The development in radiotherapy and dental care techniques, has enabled the optimization of oral management before radiotherapy, enhancing treatment outcomes and reducing side effects. This research focuses on the latest advances in oral health and dental rehabilitation in the context of radiation therapy, comparing them to historical recommendations and discussing their indications.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

A bibliographic search using the search engine PubMed, between 2009 and 2024, was carried out to evaluate the evolution of oral conditioning and dental rehabilitation in the context of radiotherapy.

RESULTS

A total of 215 references were retrieved (first 155 references, then 60 more added secondarily). Recommendations have changed over time, prioritizing a more conservative stance aimed at preserving oral functionality and preventing the nutritional and psychological deficits secondary to edentulism. The development of new materials and strategies in dental care and implantology and the evolution of radiotherapy techniques and software, have made it possible to optimize oral management before radiotherapy and to create, for the first time, a personalized and precise 'dossier', which may change the way in which planning before radiotherapy and the patient's quality of life are considered.

CONCLUSION

New practices, techniques and recommendations have emerged in the last decade to reduce radiation morbidity and improve rehabilitation.