This can happen with any cancer that has a tendency to spread to bones, although it is more common in cancers of the head and neck area or cancers, such as multiple myeloma, that could directly affect the bones or grow in the tissue of the sinuses or the upper respiratory tract. In these cases, the actual bone structure may not be able to support the teeth. Often, Drs. recommend that the teeth be removed prior to treating the bones. If treatment requires bone removal, the teeth would be removed as well. Reconstruction can replace the bone and dentures can be made to accommodate chewing.
Radiation therapy is a type of therapy, which targets cancers locally.
For example, if the head and neck region is treated with radiation therapy for plasmacytoma, only that part of the body would be affected. As a result, the side effects of treatment are also localized. If a person is to be radiated in the head and neck region, a dental consult is usually obtained prior to treatment. Chemotherapy is a systemic type of cancer treatment. That is, chemotherapy enters the body and treats the whole body.