January 10, 2018
By Jack D Griffin, DMD
Patients undergoing cancer treatment face a variety of oral health challenges, including xerostomia. Without sufficient saliva to neutralize acids and support the natural remineralization process, patients suffering from dry mouth can be more susceptible to the acids that cause tooth decay. Such was the case of a 78-year-old female cancer survivor who presented at my office with rampant root surface decay (Figure 1). She had undergone radiation and several rounds of chemotherapy over a five year period and had been cancer-free for over a year by the time of our appointment.