Modern Hygienist - October 2008 - (Page 30)

patients | SPECIAL NEEDS Care after chemo Developing a homecare regimen for patients with cancer. by Nicole Greco, BSDH, MA Patients diagnosed with cancer face innumerable challenges as they prepare for and begin treatment. In such a tumultuous time in their lives, oral health is often the last thing on these patients’ minds. However, as we know, maintaining good oral health is an important part of treatment and recovery for cancer patients, and it can have an appreciable impact on quality of life at every stage in the treatment process. The National Institutes of Health report that more than one million new cases of cancer are diagnosed each year.1 Accordingly, each of us must be prepared to educate and motivate patients to be proactive in caring for their oral health. By emphasizing the benefits of good homecare, we can empower our patients to take an active role in their treatment and prevent additional complications. watch this! Click on the screen below for an interactive message on treating patients with cancer. KNOWING THE COMPLICATIONS Chemotherapy and radiation treatments have a number of oral complications in common. Most seriously, the myelosuppressive effects of both treatments leave patients susceptible to viral, bacterial and fungal infections. Oral mucositis and xerostomia are major qualityof-life concerns, and both can also increase the risk of infection. Mucositis and xerostomia can result in difficulties with eating or speaking, which may in turn lead to poor nutrition.2 Additionally, radiation treatments to the head or neck can often permanently damage salivary glands, which can lead to a lifelong caries problem due to the lack of saliva.3 It is easy to see how individual problems can compound and escalate into a more serious issue. As cancer patients are often instructed to visit their dental office before beginning radiation or chemotherapy, we as hygienists must maximize the time we have with patients in this consultation, keeping in mind that they may not be able to return to the dental office for some time. Patients who have just been diagnosed often feel overwhelmed, stressed and confused by this initial flurry of health consultations, so taking the time to listen and Sultan Healthcare’s Topex Take Home Care is an example of a 1% sodium fluoride gel the patient can use on a daily basis. Visit sultanhealthcare.com for details. download! Take-home materials from… • GlaxoSmithKline • Proctor & Gamble “Oral Health During Cancer Treatment,” a video produced by the American Dental Association, offers some good advice for caring for patients undergoing cancer treatment. 30 modernhygienist.com | October 2008 PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES http://www.dprworld.com/elibrary/mini_player?v=282.flv" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344 http://www.sultanhealthcare.com http://www.sultanhealthcare.com http://www.dental-professional.com/Patient_Antiseptic.aspx http://www.oralb.com/en-US/topics/default.aspx#f=0_0&overlay=GingivitisisCommoninLeukemiaPatients&s=&rd=15_0 http://www.modernhygienist.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Modern Hygienist - October 2008

Modern Hygienist - October 2008 Contents Editor's Letter Letters News Modern Solutions Trends: Homecare Trends: Perio Trends: Ergo Trends: Mid Care After Chemo Professional Rewind Esthetic Expertise: Make or Break Relationship Hands-on Hygiene: Have You Seen the Light? Going the Distance Training for Life Presi-dental Politics Ad Index Moonlighting

Modern Hygienist - October 2008

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