Oral Complications of Radiotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer: Awareness among Dentists in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Radiotherapy for head and neck cancer usually involves administering a total dose ranging from 6000-7000 cGy, given daily over a 6-7 week period, and is associated with a variety of oral complications. These complications include oral mucositis, oral pain, decreased saliva secretion, an increased likelihood of dental caries, limited mouth opening, and osteoradionecrosis. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the knowledge of Saudi dental professionals through an online survey, with 463 dentists from Riyadh City participating. The results showed a near-equal distribution of male (51.9%) and female (48.1%) participants, most of whom worked as general dentists in the public sector. A significant proportion of respondents agreed on the importance of performing an oral assessment before radiotherapy, with the ideal timing for this evaluation being after a cancer diagnosis. The study concluded that most dentists recognized the need for an oral assessment before radiotherapy, emphasizing the need to extract teeth with poor prognosis and to delay radiotherapy following oral surgery by 3-4 months. In addition, routine teeth cleaning was recommended, but many dentists expressed a lack of confidence in treating patients with oral cancer.