Head & Neck Cancer Radiation Management & Counseling
Being diagnosed with cancer can be overwhelming, and assembling a trustworthy medical care team is crucial. Including a dentist in your care team is essential, even if the cancer is not located in the head and neck region.
Dr. Catherine Cagino, a Maxillofacial Prosthodontist, has specialized training in dental management and counseling of head and neck cancers. Dental care before and during radiation or chemotherapy is of utmost importance because these treatments and the disease can affect almost every part of your mouth.
What is a Maxillofacial Prosthodontist’s role in my treatment when diagnosed with cancer?
Ideally, you will visit a dentist at the time of your diagnosis, early involvement will potentially mean a shorter time between diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation.
Pre-treatment Planning:
Assessment and Diagnosis: Evaluate the patient’s oral and facial structures to understand the extent of cancer and plan appropriate interventions.
Treatment Planning: Collaborate with oncologists, surgeons, and other specialists to develop a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to the patient’s needs.
Patient Education: Inform patients about the upcoming procedures, potential side effects, and the expected outcomes. Provide psychological support to help them cope with the diagnosis and treatment.
During Treatment:
Surgical Support: Work with surgeons to plan and execute reconstructive surgeries. This may involve creating surgical guides, radiation shields/stints or immediate prosthetic devices to aid in the reconstruction of facial structures.
Prosthetic Fabrication: Design and fabricate obturators and other prosthetic devices to replace lost tissues and maintain functions such as speech, swallowing, and chewing.
Post-treatment Care:
Rehabilitation: Provide prosthetic rehabilitation to restore function and aesthetics after surgical and radiation treatments. This includes fitting and adjusting prostheses to ensure comfort and functionality.
Follow-up Care: Conduct regular follow-up appointments to monitor the patient’s progress, make necessary adjustments to prostheses, and address any complications or changes in the patient’s condition.
Ongoing Support:
Dietary and Physical Therapy Counseling: Offer guidance on dietary modifications and physical therapy to enhance recovery and maintain overall health.
Home Care Instructions: Educate patients on how to care for their prostheses and maintain oral hygiene to prevent infections and other complications.
Long-term Monitoring: Continuously monitor the patient’s oral and facial health, adjusting prosthetic devices as needed to accommodate changes in their condition or treatment outcomes.
Manage A Collaborative Care Team Approach:
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Work closely with a team of healthcare professionals, including oncologists, ENT specialists, speech therapists, and dietitians, to provide holistic care.
Research and Innovation: Stay updated with the latest advancements in maxillofacial prosthetics and cancer treatment to offer cutting-edge solutions to patients.
By providing comprehensive care and support, maxillofacial prosthodontists like Dr. Cagino play a vital role in improving the quality of life for patients with head and neck cancers, helping them regain function, confidence, and a sense of normalcy.
What is a Maxillofacial Prosthodontist?
As a Maxillofacial Prosthodontist, Dr. Catherine Cagino treats conditions affecting the entire head and neck region. Maxillofacial prosthodontics, a subspecialty of prosthodontics, focuses on rehabilitating patients with congenital defects, disease, or trauma-related disabilities. Dr. Cagino also creates prostheses to protect areas of the head and neck during radiation therapy. She often combines maxillofacial prosthetics with traditional dental therapies to restore health, function, and aesthetics to her patients’ mouths.
Dr. Cagino works closely with ENTs, oral and general surgeons, oncologists, plastic surgeons, anaplastologists, and other medical specialists to ensure optimal, long-term outcomes for her patients. By collaborating with both her patients and their medical teams, she develops customized treatment plans focused on restoring function, comfort, longevity, and confidence. If you’d like to explore how Dr. Cagino can help you, call or email our team to discuss your goals and schedule an initial consultation.