Management of Mucositis in Bone Marrow Transplant Patients

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) has become the treatment of choice for many diseases that affect the production of stem cells and elements of the immune system. The transplant recipients usually present oral problems because of the severe immunodepression caused by chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The oral problems can be very debilitating and life-threatening, increasing the length of hospital stay and treatment costs, and affecting the patient's comfort. This article discusses the important role dental hygienists can play to increase the patient's quality of life during this difficult period.
Introduction The production of stem cells that give rise to blood and elements of the immune system can be disturbed by disorders such as leukemia, aplastic anemia, and severe combined [...]