Treatment and Maintenance of a Dentate Patient with ‘Radiation Caries’

From Volume 33, Issue 8, October 2006 | Pages 462-468

Authors

Helen L Craddock

PhD, MDent Sci, BDS, FDS(Rest Dent), MRD(Pros), MFDS RCS(Edin), MGDS RCS(Eng), DGDP(UK)

Lecturer in Restorative Dentistry, Leeds Dental Institute, Clarendon Way, Leeds LS2 9LU, UK

Articles by Helen L Craddock

Abstract

Patients with xerostomia are presenting dental practitioners with challenges in caries control, long-term restoration and prosthodontic difficulties. In many cases, extraction may be the best option, but for younger, dentate patients, this may be inappropriate. This paper describes the management of a young partially dentate patient with severe xerostomia following irradiation of the salivary glands. Preventive and restorative management are discussed, together with treatment and healing of peri-radicular pathology. The case report demonstrates that long-term stabilization and management of caries and peri-radicular lesions are possible over a seven-year period fora patient with severe radiation caries.

Article