DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i04.048

Pages: 1383-1384

Palliative care dentistry has been defined as the study and management of patients with active, progressive, far-advanced disease in whom the oral cavity has been compromised either by the disease directly or by its treatment; the focus of care is quality of life. The major concerns in patients needing palliative care include mucositis/stomatitis, xerostomia, pain, nausea and vomiting, depression and anxiety, candidial infection and nutritional issues. It is ideal that palliative care team should include specialists from various fields to provide comprehensive overall care to the patient. The dental or oral medicine specialist who can help in treating mucositis which is considered as a dose and rate limiting factor in cancer therapy and also in conditions like xerostomia and candidiasis form a integral part of this team.