Caries prevention in patients who will receive irradiation therapy at head and neck area

The aim of my study is to realize a special anti- caries preventive program for patients who will receive irradiation therapy because of caries at head and neck area. The project will include 50 patients, aged between 18-40, balanced by sex with hypofunction of salivary glands. The loss of saliva causes high risk of caries, mucositis, dysphagia, difficulties with eating, speaking, weight loss and often, severe depression. My project is consists of four points: 1. Education of the patients, cooperating doctors and dentists, 2.Control of oral health status and salivary glands function among irradiated patients before, during and after therapy, 3. The special preventive program: - domestic prevention of caries, diet indications, oral hygiene instruction and professional prophylaxis with fluoride and supplementation of artificial saliva rinses -depends on saliva level 4.The analysis of results (-after 18 months). A lot of such patients in Poland doesn’t receive any preventive program before irradiation, and look for help when changes in oral cavity are severe and irreversible. I hope that this program will help in caries– risk decrease among patients with xerostomia.