This division helps patients having Head
and Neck cancer to get effective cancer care before and after
radiation therapy or surgery procedure. This division plays
an important role in expediting the diagnosis, detection and
treatment of oral cancer. The division has its own projects
and research programs for pre and post radiation oral care
and pre and post surgical Maxillo Facial Prosthesis applications.
The division functions six days in a week excluding sundays.
Majority of the patients are referred to this division by
the Division of Radiotherapy and other concerned departments
of the centre for the required treatment. The following are
the highlights of Activities:-
1. Minor Operations.
2. Dental Extractions
3. Oral prophylaxis
4. Conservative therapy
5. Occlusal adjustments
6. Preparation of bite blocks and moulds
7. Preparation of maxillofacial Prosthesis
8. Management of pre cancerous and other oral lesions.
9. Pre and Post radiation Oral care.
The division is committed to provide total
oral care for the Oral Cancer patients, who experience issues
leading to radiation or surgical complications. The department
has many ongoing projects and research work for developing
new techniques. Of these projects and research work, the Pre
and Post radiation Oral care is very important.
The Pre and Post radiation Oral care was
newly implemented after many research and formulations in
the year 1996 in the Division of Dental Care. From the research
and on going studies, it is observed that post-radiation oral
problems are the main issues with cancer patients after radiation
and they develop into complications if not treated at the
proper time. After radiation treatment, patients who are suffering
from cancer of the oral cavity, upper part of oesophagus,
lower part of the nasopharyux, maxillary sinuses, parotid
gland are some of the large list of cases experiencing complications
and require specific and acute attention of oral care. Before
the implementation of this special program, to avoid these
complications after radiation, total extraction of teeth was
usually resorted.
We understand you more than anyone regarding
cancer related problems and it was in this context, that the
Division of Dental Care contemplated developing a preventive
program to tackle these problems by implementing Pre and Post
radiation Care, especially in young patients with bright future.
This included the introduction of new formulated fluoride
therapy along with other treatments for treating patients
according to age and the degree of complication.
A primary diagnosis of radiation complication
of teeth starts with severe sensitivity to hot and cold, dental
caries, pain, sharp teeth, chipping of enamel of teeth etc.
Osteoradionecosis may occur in some cases.
The Pre and Post radiation Care is recommended to cover the
following
1) Extraction of non salvagable teeth
2) Oral prophylaxis
3) Conservative dental therapy
4) Preparation of Vinyl Fluoride Carriers
5) Formulated Fluoride Therapy and its Applications.
6) A periodic diagnosis and good dental follow –up program
The department strongly believes and assures
that with adequate patient education and their co-operation,
the oral radiation complication problems can be completely
eliminated with Pre and Post radiation Care. The duration
and effectiveness of the treatment depends upon the responsiveness
and time taken to improve the oral health in each patient.
Preparation of Maxillofacial Prosthesis is
another important treatment.
Here, after cancer surgery, eg: Hemimandibiletoncy, maxillectoncy,
deformities of the nose, buccal mucosa, lose of nose, eye,
ear, fingures of hand, etc. where plastic surgery fails or
the patient may be very weak so that the surgery cannot be
done or the patient cannot afford the expenses of the surgery,
Maxillofacial Prosthetic helps them to correct their deformities
upto a certain extend.
Maxillofacial Prosthetic can be prepared
with a very low expensive plastic like materials viz: Acrlylic,
silicon or cyanoacrylate. We are commonly using acrylic. Maxillofacial
Prosthesis treatment gives no pain, no need of surgery to
fix it. It is less expensive.
Maxillofacial Prosthesis appliances include:
1) Obturaor
2) Guiding flange
3) Artificial Nose
4) Artificial Ear
5) Artificial Eyes
6) Artificial Eyeballs and Eyelids
7) Lips with and without mostash
8) Artificial cheek
9) Fingers of hand and leg
10) Parts of hand
11) Noselift in deformities of nose
12) Vaginal moulds
13) Gunning splints
14) Keloid compression splints
15) Cap splints etc…
Other activities like management of precancerous
and other oral lesions include Leukoplakia, OSF, Lichenplanus
etc. Monthly checkup is also conducted to asses the condition
of patients who are under treatment.
The acute necessity for oral care was recognised
earlier by the Regional Cancer Centre and the Division of
Dental Care but was established in the year 1996. This department
regularly conducts training programs for the new generation
dentists and pathologists to equip them to identify and further
diagnosis early oral cancer detection and patient education
in the society.
The division plays along with all other divisions of the
Regional Cancer Centre to reach new horizons of healthcare
in Cancer Care and Treatment.
The Division of Dental Care is headed by specialist:
Asst. Professor
Dr. K.R. Nalinakumari MDS [Oral & Maxillofacial
Pathology]
along with other doctors given below:
Dr. Anjana Mohankumar B.D.S
Dr. Smitha T Krishna B.D.S
Dr. Rohsni . V,B.D.S
Dr. Divya Raj,B.D.S
You can contact us at:
Office Address:
Dr. K. R. Nalinakumari Contact No: +91- 471- 252 2307 (Hospital)
Asst. Professor & Head +91-
471- 244 5181, 557 7497 (Res.)
Division of Dental Care Cell
No: +91-944 724 7337
Regional Cancer Centre,
Fax No: +91-471-244 7454
Trivandrum, Kerala, India -695011 E-Mail: drnalina@rediffmail.com
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