Palliative Care Patients Need Extra Dental Attention

Palliative care, also known as supportive care, is medical treatment for someone with a serious illness. It lessens the illness’s symptoms and stress, and it improves the daily lives of the patient and his (or her) family. Palliative care can be given in hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient palliative care clinics or at home. (Hospice care focuses on quality of life when a patient’s prognosis is dire.) Palliative dentistry is crucial for a patient fighting cancer or other diseases because unique and troublesome dental issues can arise.

John F. Adams, DDS & Nathan J. Adams, DDS’s commitment to satisfaction is evident in our patient-centered approach. We tailor treatment plans to meet individual needs and prioritize your comfort throughout your dental experience.

Treatments for cancer or other serious illnesses can cause oral health problems. 

Radiation can damage salivary glands and bring on dry mouth. Saliva has many important missions other than just moistening the mouth. Its antimicrobial proteins help control decay-causing bacteria, and its minerals assist in keeping tooth enamel strong.

Patients going through radiation therapy can develop radiation caries—a type of rampant tooth decay incited by treatment. If not dealt with quickly, these cavities can lead to tooth abscesses, which will need special or more frequent dental treatment.

The itching and burning from oral thrush can make eating and drinking quite uncomfortable. 

Palliative dental care treatments include:

• more frequent dental checkups and preventive care.
• mouth rinse and a concentration on a bland, soft diet for dry mouth.
• antibiotics for mouth sores.
• anti-fungal medications for oral thrush.
• increased water consumption to alleviate the discomfort of mouth sores.

Palliative dental care focuses on maintaining a patient’s comfort by managing the symptoms of side effects and issues. After examining and talking with your loved one’s healthcare team, the patient’s dentist can recommend a suitable dental care plan. 

The office of John F. Adams, DDS & Nathan J. Adams, DDS embraces the benefits of modern dentistry with our state-of-the-art technology, which ensures precise diagnoses, superior treatments and an elevated standard of care. Please call us today to make an appointment.