Head and Neck Cancer and the dental patient

Oral cancers are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Screening for oral cancer should be part of any oral examination. Preventive programs encouraging oral cancer screening and risk minimisation are advocated.

Transoral Robotic Surgery in the Multidisciplinary Care of Patients with Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (April 18, 2025)
Transoral Robotic Surgery in the Multidisciplinary Care of Patients with Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (February 11, 2025)
Prevention and Management of Osteoradionecrosis in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer Treated with Radiation Therapy (May 01, 2025)
Immunotherapy and Biomarker Testing in Recurrent and Metastatic Head and Neck Cancers (December 14, 2022)
Management of Salivary Gland Malignancy (April 26, 2021)
Diagnosis and Management of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Unknown
Chemotherapy in Combination with Radiotherapy for Definitive-Intent Treatment of Stage II-IVA Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (January 06, 2021)
Primary in the Head and Neck (April 23, 2020)
Management of the Neck in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity and Oropharynx (February 27, 2019)

Seremidi, K., Gizani, S., Anderson, M., Dahllöf, G., Barr-Agholme, M., Parekh, S., Tsilingaridis, G., & (2025, April 23). Best clinical practise guidance for oral health care management of long-term childhood cancer survivors (CCS): An EAPD policy document. European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-025-01037-2

Homer, J.J. (2016, August). Surgery in head and neck cancer: United Kingdom National Multidisciplinary Guidelines – ERRATUM. The Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 130(8), 792. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022215116008203

This collection of articles focuses on various different head and neck cancers, including mouth cancer. From causes, pathology and detection to restoration and management, it brings together insightful content from the British Dental Journal, BDJ Open, BDJ Team and Evidence-Based Dentistry. It also features articles from the recent BDJ Team’s themed issue on mouth cancer and the BDJ’s issue on head and neck cancer.

Dental Clinics of North America, July 2025, Volume 69, Issue31, pp. 327-472

Dental Clinics of North America, January 2018, Volume 62, Issue 1, pp. 1-154.

Moore, C., Donnelly, M., Semple, C., O'Neill, C., & McKenna, G. (2023, November). Compliance with oral hygiene and dietary advice for the prevention of post-radiotherapy dental disease among head and neck cancer patients – a qualitative study. Journal of Dentistry, 138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2023.104720

Beaumont, S., Liu, A., & Hull, K. (2025, March 22). A retrospective cohort study of the oral healthcare needs of cancer patients. Supportive Care in Cancer, 33(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-025-09314-y

Doctor, R., Padhya, T., Mifsud, M., & Nickel, C. (2024, March). A systematic review of approaches to dental care in head and neck cancer patients. Oral Oncology Reports, 9, 100205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oor.2024.100205

Lajolo, C., Rupe, C., Gioco, G., Troiano, G., Patini, R., Petruzzi, M., Micciche’, F., Giuliani, M., & Wong, D. (2021, November). Osteoradionecrosis of the jaws due to teeth extractions during and after radiotherapy: a systematic review. Cancers, 13(22), 5798. https://doi.org/10.4103/njms.njms_413_21

Mirfendereski, P., Li, G.Y., Pearson, A.T., & Kerr, A.R. (2025, March 10). Artificial intelligence and the diagnosis of oral cavity cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders from clinical photographs: A narrative review. Frontiers in Oral Health, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2025.1569567

Tanriver, G., Soluk Tekkesin, M., Ergen, O., Saintigny, P., Koljenović, S., Bossy, P., & Bouaoud, J. (2021, June 2). Automated detection and classification of oral lesions using deep learning to detect oral potentially malignant disorders. Cancers, 13(11), 2766. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13112766

Saunders, D.P., & Watson, E. (2025, May). Chronic complications and survivorship in patients with head and neck cancer. Dental Clinics of North America. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cden.2025.03.009

Moore, C., Donnelly, M., Semple, C., O'Neill, C., & McKenna, G. (2023, November). Compliance with oral hygiene and dietary advice for the prevention of post-radiotherapy dental disease among head and neck cancer patients – a qualitative study. Journal of Dentistry, 138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2023.104720

Su, Y.F., Chen, Y.J., Tsai, F.T., Li, W.C., Hsu, M.L., Wang, D.H., & Yang, C.C. (2021, July 16). Current insights into oral cancer diagnostics. Diagnostics, 11(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11071287

Abed, H. (2023, July). Dental considerations for head and neck cancer: A clinical review. The Saudi Dental Journal, 35(5), 476-486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sdentj.2023.05.009

Villa, A., & Akintoye, S.O. (2018, January). Dental management of patients who have undergone oral cancer therapy. Dental Clinics of North America, 62(1), 131-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cden.2017.08.010

Zarzar, A.M., Sales, P.H.d.H., Barros, A.W.P., Arreguy, I.M.S., Carvalho, A.A.T., & Leão, J.C. (2024, January). Effectiveness of dental implants in patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancer: An umbrella review. Special Care in Dentistry, 44(1), 40-56. https://doi.org/10.1111/scd.12840

Bertl, K., Savvidis, P., Kukla, E.B., Schneider, S., Zauza, K., Bruckmann, C., & Stavropoulos, A. (2021, November 18). Including dental professionals in the multidisciplinary treatment team of head and neck cancer patients improves long-term oral health status. Clinical Oral Investigations, 26(3), 2937-2948. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-021-04276-x

Lanzetti, J., Finotti, F., Savarino, M., Gassino, G., Dell'Acqua, A., & Erovigni, F.M. (2023, March 16). Management of oral hygiene in head-neck cancer patients undergoing oncological surgery and radiotherapy: A systematic review. Dentistry Journal, 11(3), 83. https://doi.org/10.3390/dj11030083

Wong, T., Wiesenfeld, D., & Wong, T. (2018, March). Oral Cancer. Australian Dental Journal, 63(S1), S91-S99. https://doi.org/10.1111/adj.12594

Miranda Galvis, M., Schausltz Pereira Faustino, I., Cabral Ramos, J., Santos Silva, A.R., Abreu Alves, F., Kowalski, L.P., & Ajudarte Lopes, M. (2021, March). Oral cancer adjacent to dental implants mimicking benign lesions: A case series study. Australian Dental Journal, 66(1), 112-118. https://doi.org/10.1111/adj.12793

Brzak, L.B., Aleksijević, H.L., Vindiš, E., Kordić, V., Granić, M., Juras, V.D., & Rogulj, A.A. (2023, January 1). Osteonecrosis of the jaw. Dentistry Journal, 11(1), 23-17. https://doi.org/10.3390/dj11010023

Lajolo, C., Rupe, C., Gioco, G., Troiano, G., Patini, R., Petruzzi, M., Micciche’, F., Giuliani, M., & Wong, D. (2021, November). Osteoradionecrosis of the jaws due to teeth extractions during and after radiotherapy: a systematic review. Cancers, 13(22), 5798. https://doi.org/10.4103/njms.njms_413_21

Cristian, A., Keole, N., Orada, R., Callan, C., Hyun Seo, J., Dakova, D.D., Owens, M., & Halton, L. (2025, April). Supportive care for oral cancer survivors. Dental Clinics of North America. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cden.2025.03.006

Kalsi, H., McCaul, L.K., & Rodriguez, J.M. (2022, November 11). The role of primary dental care practitioners in the long-term management of patients treated for head and neck cancer. British Dental Journal, 233(9), 765-768. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-5148-z

This site provides a wealth of information covering types of head and neck cancers, diagnosis, treatment, health and wellbeing. The section for Health Professionals has a target range of resources including videos. For a full list of resources go to the Resources page.

Head and Neck Cancer Australia has developed 3D animations to guide people through the different types of Head and Neck Cancer.

Guest speakers from Head and Neck Cancer Australia
24 April 2023, 1:30:20
The learning outcomes for this session included:
• Understand the role of HANCA and the resources available to support people living with Head and Neck Cancer.
• Understand the changes in the demographics and trajectory in Head and Neck Cancer epidemiology.
• Understand the role Dentists play in selecting the optimal referral pathway for patients with suspected Head and Neck Cancer.
• Understand the role Dentists play in the long-term survivorship support needs of people living with Head and Neck Cancer.

Presented by Shae Beaton at ADA Congress 2020, 36m 45s.
The learning outcomes for this session include:
• Identify the possible side effects associated with radiation treatment to the head and neck.
• Compare the prevention and management strategies for radiation-induced side effects.
• Analyse the role of an OHT/DT/HYG in providing dental care for patients with head and neck cancer.
• Review a new platform that uses AI to bridge the skill sets of all operators, dentists, hygienists and orthodontists, allowing most dentists to treat most of their orthodontic cases in-house.

Presented by Dr Timothy Wong, 2017 Congress, 33m 52s.
The learning outcomes for this session include:
• Understand what AI can and cannot do
• Learn how dental artificial models are trained
• Discover the current and future potential of AI to improve oral health
• Basics of HA and its benefits.
• Examines Intraoral application for periodontic treatment.
• Examines Intraoral application for papilla deficiency treatment.
• Reviews Intraoral application in conjunction with oral surgery.

Presented by Dr Peter Foltyn at 2017 Congress, 43m 53s.
The learning outcomes for this session include:
• Identify and recognise the importance of early diagnosis of oral cancer.
• Review the appropriate management of suspicious oral lesions.
• Observe how to carry out an oral biopsy.

Presented by Professor Michael McCullough at Congress 2017, 44m 2s.
The learning outcomes for this session included:
• Enhanced appreciation of the clinical appearance of oral mucosal disease, potentially malignant diseases, and oral cancer.
• Have a greater appreciation of the changing aetiology of oral cancer.

#Dental Files Podcast, 1 September 2019, 9m 29s.
In this interview, Prof Camile Farah provides information on how various item numbers pertaining to mucosal and head and neck screening should be used by General Dental Practitioners, including permissible combinations of item numbers. He also comments on various classes of adjunctive screening tools, with an emphasis on the importance of white light as a first-line assessment tool.

#Dental Files Podcast, 31 October 2022, 19m 34s.
In this interview, Dr Felix Sim discusses the role of oral cancer screening and the role general dentists can play as part of a treatment team for these conditions.

Arterial Education partnered with Head and Neck Cancer Australia to produce educational module.

Join ENT/Head and Neck Cancer Surgeon, Dr Matthew Magarey and Dr Felix Sim, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and Head and Neck Cancer patients in an interactive, case-based one hour online education module about the changing face of Head and Neck Cancer.

This activity is a dual educational initiative for GPs and dentists focusing on increasing awareness of head and neck cancer with regards to prompt patient identification and optimal referral to a specialist or Head and Neck Cancer multidisciplinary team (MDT) for further management and how to provide long term support for people living with head and neck cancer.

This activity has been endorsed by the ADA for 1 hour of continuing professional development.