Secondary radiation caries related to xerostomia: a case report about the impact of follow-up loss

This case report is about a 48-year-old man with advanced radiation caries caused by the loss of follow-up, treated surgically, in 2018, for multiple Squamous and Basal Cell Carcinomas of the skin, using radiotherapy (IMRT) for squamous cell carcinoma on left parotid skin. Although he was submitted to preventive oral treatments to avoid acute and chronic consequences of radiation, he abandoned the accompaniment in the same year, returning in March 2022 with dental pain related to advanced radiation caries. Upon physical and radiographic examinations, a severe destruction of the maxillary teeth and a lower-level destruction of the mandibular teeth was noticed. The doses higher than 40Gy did not reach the maxilla, showing that the radiation caries were secondary to xerostomia. The patient is currently undergoing surgical and restoration treatments. This case reveals a reflection on the importance of follow-up in post radiation patients. This case report is about a 48-year-old man with advanced radiation caries caused by the loss of follow-up, treated surgically, in 2018, for multiple Squamous and Basal Cell Carcinomas of the skin, using radiotherapy (IMRT) for squamous cell carcinoma on left parotid skin. Although he was submitted to preventive oral treatments to avoid acute and chronic consequences of radiation, he abandoned the accompaniment in the same year, returning in March 2022 with dental pain related to advanced radiation caries. Upon physical and radiographic examinations, a severe destruction of the maxillary teeth and a lower-level destruction of the mandibular teeth was noticed. The doses higher than 40Gy did not reach the maxilla, showing that the radiation caries were secondary to xerostomia. The patient is currently undergoing surgical and restoration treatments. This case reveals a reflection on the importance of follow-up in post radiation patients.