Treatments for cancer, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy, often lead to unavoidable side effects or treatment complications. One of the most commonly affected organs is the oral cavity, due to high turnover rates of oral mucosal cells and the complex structures within and around the oral cavity, including jawbones, teeth, periodontium, and salivary glands. Since the oral structures play key roles in multiple important functions, such as eating, speaking and swallowing, the short- and long-term adverse effects on oral structures can have marked negative impacts on oral health, general health, as well as quality of life of the patients. Understanding the epidemiology, risk factors, and mechanisms leading to oral complications as well as advances in oral care and management for the patients are critical.

The goal of this Research Topic is to provide a platform for researchers and clinicians to share their research and expertise related to oral care and managements for patients receiving cancer treatments. Various side effects of cancer therapies could detrimentally affect patients’ health and outcome of cancer treatment. Better understanding of the epidemiology, risk factors, and mechanisms of cancer therapy-induced oral complications could potentially lead to better management and prevention. Moreover, advanced knowledge and continuing development of diagnostic tools, and preventive and therapeutic protocols for these patients would help to improve oral health, general health, quality of life and the survival of the patients.

This Research Topic welcomes original research (clinical, preclinical, and laboratory studies), case series, and review articles covering the following aspects of oral care and managements for patients receiving cancer treatments:

• Pathogenesis/etiology
• Epidemiology
• Consequences/ complications
• Diagnostics/prognostics
• Management strategies and effectiveness
• Preventive and therapeutic strategies and effectiveness
• Palliative care
• Quality of life

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Frontiers in Oral Health

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