Abstract

ZANINI, Luara; ARRUDA BRAZ, Marcylene; LEITES LARENTIS, Naiara  and  ITZEL ACOSTA MORENO VINHOLES, Julia. Knowledge of dental surgeons from the city of Capão da Canoa on the care for cancer patients. RFO UPF [online]. 2016, vol.21, n.3, pp. 374-380. ISSN 1413-4012.

Objective: to evaluate, through a questionnaire, the level of knowledge of dentists on the care for cancer patients. Subjects and method: 51 questionnaires were distributed in the city of Capão da Canoa, RS, Brazil, and 23 of them were answered. Results: most professionals use 0.12% chlorhexidine as mouthwash during the care for patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, and these professionals would not extract the third molars and partially erupted teeth of these patients. 52.17% would not indicate installing implants after radiotherapy, and the remaining respondents would do it after 1 year at least. To perform extractions and avoid osteoradionecrosis, 21.73% of professionals would do it only after 6 months, 39.13% after 1 year, and the remaining would do it after 3 years or more. For yeast infections, the most indicated drug was Nystatin. In the case of viral infections, most did not respond. 43.47% of respondents would not know how to diagnose mucositis, and most of them did not respond regarding its treatment. Xerostomia was the oral complication most often mentioned among the problems these patients may present; infections were also mentioned. For the early diagnosis of these changes and for knowing how to act during the treatment of cancer patients, the respondents answered that it is necessary to verify the oral condition of patients before starting radiotherapy and to contact the physician in charge to learn about the general health status of the patient. Conclusion: several dentists still have doubts about the care for cancer patients, not knowing how to perform a protocol to care of these patients.

Keywords : Surveys and questionnaires; Neoplasms; Dentistry; Oncology.