Proper mouth and dental care before and after head and neck cancer surgery is important for healing, eating, speaking, and long‑term comfort.
Dental Care Before Surgery
Why You Need a Dental Exam
A dental exam before surgery helps your care team plan your treatment and recovery.
Dental care before surgery helps:
- Reduce infection risk
- Improve healing after surgery
- Protect remaining teeth
- Plan for dentures or other dental needs
What to Expect
- Dental exam and X‑rays
- Photos or molds of your teeth
- Evaluation by your dentist or a specialist dentist
If time allows, a professional dental cleaning before surgery is recommended.
Understanding Your Surgery (Simple Terms)
- Tumor resection: removing cancer and some surrounding tissue.
- Mandibulectomy: removal of part of the lower jaw if cancer involves bone.
- Maxillectomy: removal of part of the upper jaw if cancer involves bone.
- Glossectomy: removal of all or part of the tongue.
- Neck dissection: removal of lymph nodes in the neck.
- Laryngectomy: removal of the voice box.
- Reconstruction: rebuilding bone or tissue using tissue from another part of your body.
- Tracheostomy: temporary opening in the neck for breathing.
- Gastrostomy (G-tube): used if swallowing is difficult during healing.
Radiation Therapy After Surgery
Some patients need radiation therapy after surgery.
- Radiation usually starts 4–6 weeks after surgery.
- Radiation can permanently affect jawbone healing.
After radiation therapy:
- Always talk to your radiation oncologist before having teeth removed.
- This includes dental surgery or implants.
Dental Implants (Not for Everyone)
Dental implants may help replace missing teeth, but they depend on:
- Bone and gum health
- Whether radiation was given
- Time since cancer treatment
- Smoking history
- Cost (often not covered by insurance)
Your dental and medical teams will help decide what is safest for you.
Dentures and Jaw Surgery
After Upper Jaw Surgery
- There may be an opening between mouth and sinus
- A special denture called an obturator may be used
- Keeping healthy teeth helps dentures fit better
After Lower Jaw Surgery
- Dentures may be harder to support
- Implants or additional surgery may be needed
- Keeping healthy teeth is very important to help with eating
Denture Care
- Remove dentures if your mouth is sore
- Clean dentures daily
- Use antimicrobial denture cleaner
- Dentures without metal may be soaked in:
- 1 tablespoon bleach in ½ cup water
- Rinse well before wearing
Mouth Care After Cancer Treatment
- See your dentist every 3–6 months
- Dental X‑rays every 6–12 months
- Keep your mouth clean and healthy
- Use daily fluoride if radiation was part of treatment
Radiation can cause severe tooth decay that lasts a lifetime.
Daily Fluoride Use (Very Important)
Why Fluoride Matters
Radiation permanently changes saliva and increases cavities. Daily fluoride:
- Strengthens teeth
- Helps prevent serious decay
How to Use Fluoride Trays
- Use fluoride at bedtime
- Remove dentures
- Brush and floss teeth
- Put a thin layer of fluoride in trays
- Wear trays 5–10 minutes
- Spit out fluoride
- Do not rinse, eat, or drink for 30 minutes
- Start within 1 week after radiation.
- Use every day for life.
This patient information was developed by the
UF Health Oral Medicine Clinic
P.O. Box 100414, Gainesville, FL 32610
352-273-6741