IMPORTÂNCIA DO ATENDIMENTO ODONTOLÓGICO AO PACIENTE SUBMETIDO AO TRATAMENTO RADIOTERÁPICO DE CABEÇA E PESCOÇO: Revisão narrativa/integrativa da literatura

Head and neck cancer includes malignant tumors in areas such as the mouth and larynx, with smoking and alcohol as the main risk factors. This research seeks to contribute to the development of dental protocols that minimize these effects and promote oral rehabilitation. For this, SCIELO, PUBMED, the Virtual Health Library and Google Scholar were used as databases, where several scientific articles on the topic were found, published between 1983 and 2024 in English and Portuguese. Radiotherapy for head and neck cancer, although effective, causes complications such as xerostomia, mucositis, cavities, trismus and osteoradionecrosis, which negativel affect patients' quality of life. These complications result from the high sensitivity of oral tissues and salivary glands to radiation, impacting functions such as chewing, swallowing and speech. Multidisciplinary dental monitoring is essential to prevent and treat these effects, with emphasis on interventions such as laser therapy and dental care prior to radiotherapy. Individualizing treatment is essential to improve the prognosis and general well-being of patients. We conclude that dental monitoring before, during and after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer is essential to prevent and minimize complications such as mucositis, xerostomia and osteoradionecrosis. The multidisciplinary and personalized approach is fundamental to improving patients' quality of life, highlighting the importance of the dentist in cancer treatment.