Effects of radiation therapy on pulp responsiveness

Patients who have malignant tumors of the head and neck often receive radiation therapy (RT) as part of their treatment to control cell growth. To reach the target cells, radiation must pass through healthy tissues, which can suffer DNA damage. For head and neck treatments, teeth are often in the pathway of RT and can receive high doses of radiation. Several adverse effects develop, including lack of tooth sensitivity, acute hematologic abnormalities, chemical injuries in the tissues, changes in microcirculation, and altered pulp sensitivity, which can make it difficult to assess the pulp ’s health accurately.
Source: Dental Abstracts - Category: Dentistry Tags: Inquiry Source Type: research