Patients with cancer require appropriately prioritised dental services to prevent delayed medical care, due to oral health problems.
NHS England’s new guidance for dental practices and commissioners highlights the complex relationship between oral health and cancer, to help patients access oral health assessments and care in a timely manner. It specifically outlines an ‘oral health in cancer pathway’ for patients with a diagnosis of head and neck cancer, patients awaiting chemotherapy or immunotherapy for any cancer type, and patients that will undergo bone marrow transplantation.
