Abstract

ROZZA, Rafaela Elvira; FERREIRA, Stefânia Jeronimo  and  SOUZA, Paulo Henrique Couto. Clinical aspects and prevention of oral mucositis - Review. RFO UPF [online]. 2011, vol.16, n.2, pp. 217-223. ISSN 1413-4012.

Objective: The aim of this study is to achieve a literature review about oral mucosites. Literative review: The term oral mucositis emerged in 1980 and it was defined as soft tissue inflammation induced by systemic toxi city caused by cancer chemotherapy, which causes the injury in the basal cell of oral mucosa. The presence of this lesion reduces the patients' quality of life and nutritional status, increasing their degree of morbidity and interfering with cancer treatment. Before these factors, it is important to stress the need for the development of preventive methods characterized by simple techniques mainly, such as standardized oral hygiene, regular mouthwash with chlorhexidine gluconate 0.12% and low intensity laser therapy applications. The preventive methods have different results in the scientific literature, all of which act on the important factors in the cause and exacerbation of oral mucositis with inflammatory cytokines and secondary bacterial infections. Final considerations: Dentists, based on the literature review, are the first professionals to diagnose oral mucositis, thus they ought to improve their knowledge, working in the hospitals environment such as Oncological Services and offering preventive methods.

Keywords : Oral mucositis.; Preventive methods.; Oncology.; Dental hospital..