[Radiotherapy of head and neck cancers]

Radiotherapy remains the basic method of treatment of cancers. In association with surgery and chemotherapy allows to obtain higher percent of total recovery and to reduce radical operation area. The use of ionizing rays in craniofacial region risks of many complications. The typical treatment lasts 5-8 weeks, patient absorbs fractional doses once or twice a day 5 days per week. Early acute complications appear during treatment and 3 months after completing radiotherapy. They are usually reversible and last shortly. Late complications are observed within several months and even many years after completing radiotherapy. All oral complications arising from radiation can be prevented if the proper care of the patient is taken before cancer therapy begins. The dental management during radiotherapy consists of intensive fluoride prophylaxis, the use of anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antihistaminic and locally anaesthetic agents for prevention and treatment of mucositis. When xerostomia develops there is possibility to introduce saliva substitutes and drugs stimulating salivary flow rates. It is very important to protect the patient against osteoradionecrosis.