Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Head and Neck Cancer Care - Optimizing Oral Health Management for Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy

Sep 22, 2026

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Radiation therapy (RT) plays a central role in head and neck cancer treatment, making coordinated care essential for reducing oral harm. The review stresses effective communication and collaboration between radiation oncologists and dental specialists across the care pathway. It summarizes RT’s role in HNC management and explains how interdisciplinary teams can optimize treatment delivery and prevent post-treatment oral complications through early dental involvement. Strategies include patient assessment before RT, preparation for RT, and proactive prophylactic measures, followed by dental-led oral health follow-up after therapy.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages17

Reading Time43 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Head and neck cancers and RT modalities

Role of dental specialists in RT planning

Material and Methods

Clinical practice review approach

Review Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Head and Neck Cancer Care: Optimizing Oral Health Management for Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy Tugce Kutuk 1, Ece Atak 2, Alessandro Villa 3, Noah S. Kalman 1,4 and Adeel Kaiser 1,4, * Citation: Kutuk, T.; Atak, E.; Villa, A.; Kalman, N.S.; Kaiser, A. Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Head and Neck Cancer Care: Optimizing Oral Health Management for Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy. Curr. Oncol. 2024, 31, 2092–2108. [https://doi.org/10.3390/](https://doi.org/10.3390/)[ ](https://doi.org/10.3390/)curroncol31040155 Received: 12 January 2024 Revised: 29 March 2024 Accepted: 3 April 2024 Published: 7 April 2024 Copyright: © 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ([https://](https://)[ ](https://)[creativecommons.org/licenses/by/](creativecommons.org/licenses/by/)[ ](creativecommons.org/licenses/by/)[4.0/](4.0/)) . 1 Department of Radiation Oncology, Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health South Florida, Miami, FL 33176, USA; [tugcek@baptisthealth.net](tugcek@baptisthealth.net) (T.K.) 2 Department of Radiation Oncology, Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Antalya 07070, Turkey; [eceatak.md@gmail.com](eceatak.md@gmail.com) 3 Oral Medicine and Oral Oncology, Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health South Florida, Miami, FL 33176, USA; [alessandro.villa@baptisthealth.net](alessandro.villa@baptisthealth.net) 4 Department of Radiation Oncology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA * Correspondence: [adeelk@baptisthealth.net](adeelk@baptisthealth.net); Tel.: +786-527-7803 Abstract: Radiation therapy (RT) plays a crucial role in the treatment of head and neck cancers (HNCs) . This paper emphasizes the importance of effective communication and collaboration between radiation oncologists and dental specialists in the HNC care pathway. It also providesan overview of the role of RT in HNC treatment and illustrates the interdisciplinary collaboration between these teams to optimize patient care, expedite treatment, and prevent post-treatment oral complications. The methods utilized include a thorough analysis of existing research articles, case reports, and clinical guidelines, with terms such as ‘dental management’,‘oral oncology’,‘head and neck cancer’, and ‘radiotherapy’ included for this review. The findings underscore the significance of the early involvement of dental specialists in the treatment planning phase to assess and prepare patients for RT, including strategies such as prophylactic tooth extraction to mitigate potential oral complications. Furthermore, post-treatment oral health follow-up and management by dental specialists are crucial in minimizing the incidence and severity of RT-induced oral sequelae. In conclusion, these proactive measures help minimize dental and oral complications before, during, and after treatment. Keywords: oral oncology; radiotherapy; head and neck cancer; dental management 1. Introduction Head and neck cancers (HNCs) account for approximately 67,000 new cancer diagnoses in the United States each year [1] . HNCs encompass cancers of various anatomic regions including the oral cavity, larynx, hypopharynx, nasopharynx, oropharynx, paranasal sinuses, and salivary glands (Table 1) . The treatment of HNCs necessitates a multidisciplinary approach, with the majority of patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT) as an integral part of their treatment [2] . RT is a frequently utilized treatment modality in early-stage HNCs, either as a monotherapy or in conjunction with concurrent chemotherapy, serving as a definitive means of preserving organ function or as an adjuvant treatment following surgery in cases of locally advanced disease. Additionally, RT is utilized for palliating metastases to head and neck sites [3] . Not

FAQs

Why is interdisciplinary collaboration important in head and neck cancer care?

The review highlights that effective communication between radiation oncologists and dental specialists is necessary to optimize patient care, streamline treatment, and reduce oral complications during and after RT.

What role do dental specialists play during radiation therapy planning?

Dental specialists are emphasized as early contributors to assess and prepare patients for RT, including strategies to mitigate potential oral complications.

What follow-up and management steps are recommended after radiation therapy?

The review underscores that post-treatment oral health follow-up and ongoing management by dental specialists help minimize the incidence and severity of RT-induced oral sequelae.

Sep 22, 2026

Upload by Aurora