ORAL CARE IN OSTEORADIONECROSIS OF THE MANDIBLE - CASE REPORT

Patient J.C., 37 years old and male, was diagnosed as having a poorly differentiated metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the rhinopharynx treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy in 2008 with complete remission and has been in medical follow-up since then. In 2017, he attended a dentistry service, reporting the need of dental extraction. The clinical examination revealed remaining teeth in a poor state of preservation and also showed a bone exposure area, corresponding to the edentulous region of the right lower third molar, of elliptical shape and approximately 2 cm. Panoramic radiograph showed bone rarefaction in the reported region. J.C. stated that a dental surgical procedure had been performed on this area 1 month earlier. The diagnostic hypothesis was suggestive of osteoradionecrosis. Oral care protocol was prescribed, using mouthwashes with sodium bicarbonate, 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate, and 10-volume hydrogen peroxide. The patient was followed up biweekly, and after 4 months, the complete clinical repair was observed without painful symptomatology.