The Oral & Dental Management of Patients Before, During and After Cancer Therapy

The Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) at the Royal College of Surgeons of England has released an updated clinical guideline on oral and dental management of cancer patients — before, during, and after treatment.

Key points:

• Why it matters: Oral complications affect up to 90–100% of patients receiving head and neck radiotherapy, impacting nutrition, speech, comfort, and treatment continuity.
• Scope: Covers patients with head and neck cancers and haematological malignancies, addressing complications from chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, immunotherapy, and stem cell transplantation. This is an update to a guideline first published in 1997.
• Development: Peer-reviewed by external bodies (British Society of Special Care Dentistry, Children and Young People’s Cancer Association, Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme, Mouth Cancer Foundation). Follows PRISMA-S 2020 methodology and uses the GRADE system to assess evidence strength.
• New in this edition: Expanded recommendations for children and young people, and new content addressing the growing population undergoing stem cell transplantation.
• Accompanying resources: Two patient information leaflets (for head and neck cancer patients, and oncology/haematology patients), a GRADE evidence summary, and an easy read guidance in brief
• Access: Available via the RCS England / FDS website.

https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/dental-faculties/fds/publications-guidelines/clinical-guidelines/

Full guidance:

https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/-/media/Files/RCS/FDS/Publications/The-oral-and-dental-management-of-patients-before-during-and-after-cancer-therapy.pdf

Guidance in brief:

https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/-/media/Files/RCS/FDS/Publications/The-oral-and-dental-management-of-patients-before-during-and-after-cancer-therapy-easy-read.pdf