What is oral cancer

Do you have a wound in your mouth that doesn't go away? Malignant tumors that occur on the lips, tongue, cheek mucosa, gums, roof of the mouth, and jawbone are called oral cancers. Oral cancer screening is necessary if any wounds, lumps, ulcers, or white or black tissue in the mouth are observed and persists without disappearing. If early detection fails, it progresses to the upper jaw, lower jaw, tongue, and skin, and extensive surgery and radiation chemotherapy are inevitable. Metastases to the cervical lymph nodes are also common and can spread to other parts of the body. Only early detection can increase successful cancer treatment and long-term survival. In addition, facial deformity and speech impotence that may occur after surgery greatly atrophy patients psychologically.

Symptoms of oral cancer

- A lump or ulcer in the mouth
- Deformation of the jawbone, temporomandibular joint or gum bone
- Paresthesia of the lips or tongue
- Persistent foreign body feeling
- non-stop bleeding
- Changes in oral mucosa color - white or black
- a lump on the neck
- Pain in the mouth, loose teeth, pus in the mouth, etc.
These symptoms can be caused by various dental diseases, but they are also symptoms of oral cancer, so prompt examination is necessary.

What is 3D computer simulation facial reconstruction?

Oral cancer tissues and tissues invaded by oral cancer must be surgically removed, which results in loss of oral and facial tissues and jaw bones. Accordingly, it is essential to perform reconstructive surgery to recover the face and jaw bones as close to the original shape as possible by collecting the calf bones. We, Kyunghee Medical Center Cancer Hospital, face precision reconstruction clinic and dental treatment center are performing precision reconstruction surgery through 3D computer simulation. Virtual surgery is performed first with 3D simulation. After that, a customized surgical guide according to the patient is printed with a 3D printer to precisely remove tissues, and the jaw bone and facial bones are reconstructed by precisely trimming the graft bone to minimize facial deformation and loss of function.

Oral care before radiation and chemotherapy

Oral and dental examinations are essential prior to radiation therapy. The jawbone is a common area affected by radiation therapy, and teeth with gum disease and severe caries should be extracted before radiation therapy, as they can cause maxillofacial abscesses and radiation osteonecrosis. Also, after radiation treatment, gum disease and tooth decay due to decreased saliva easily occur, so scaling and tooth decay treatment should be performed in advance. Oral complications can be minimized by preventive dental checkups for patients with blood cancer who frequently bleed gums or those taking osteoporosis medications for bone cancer. Our dental care center helps patients who are going to be treated for various cancers with oral hygiene management, and provides treatment for tooth extraction, oral inflammation, and scaling.

Oral care during and after radiation and chemotherapy

Most dental treatments, except emergency care, are not recommended during chemotherapy. Therefore, complete dental treatment as much as possible before chemotherapy, brush with the softest toothbrush during chemotherapy, and use chlorhexidine mouthwash. Drinking water often, and biting on ice when mucosal pain occurs can also help. Radiation therapy can affect the oral mucosa cells and cause mucosal ulcers, which can also cause pain and infection. The incidence is increased, especially if it has been treated in the area of the face and neck. In addition, decreased salivation leads to dry mouth, which increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. This can persist even after radiation therapy is over, so oral hygiene is very important. Brush your teeth at least 3 times a day, preferably every 2 hours. It also affects the taste buds of the tongue, altering and weakening taste, but in most cases spontaneously recovers after treatment is complete.

Radiation osteonecrosis

If you have received radiation treatment on the face or neck, osteonecrosis can occur in the jawbone. Therefore, the problem tooth must be extracted one month before radiation treatment. Improper dentures can also be a cause, so it should be controlled in advance, and denture brushes and denture cleaners should be used to prevent bacterial growth. At our dental center, we help diagnose and treat osteonecrosis after radiation therapy, and we also provide patient education for prevention.