To Extract or not to Extract in Post-irradiated Oral & Oropharyngeal Cancer Patients in the era of Pentoxifyline & Tocopherol

This is a LIVE webinar via Zoom and registration is required.

Webinar Description

Approximately 50,000 individuals are newly diagnosed with oral and pharyngeal cancer every year in the United States. Most patients are diagnosed at a later stage thereby warranting the use of radiotherapy either as neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy. Even with advance radiation delivery techniques such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy and intensity-modulated proton therapy, oral complications such as xerostomia, caries, trismus, and osteoradionecrosis (ORN) still exist. Post-radiation patients to the oral and oropharynx cavity are prone to developing rampant dental caries that may result in dental extractions.

ORN is the most morbid oral complication of radiotherapy that may be managed with segmental jaw resection and reconstruction with bone flap/graft. The risk of osteoradionecrosis post-extraction in an irradiated oral/pharynx cavity is for life. Prevention of ORN in these patients is crucial. This lecture will focus on the use of pentoxifylline-tocopherol in preventing ORN in post-radiation patients that require dental extractions.

Educational Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Understand the etiology, risk factors, pathophysiology, and management of ORN.

• Understand the pharmacologic properties of pentoxifylline and tocopherol.

• Prophylactic use of pentoxifylline and tocopherol for preventing ORN in post-irradiated patient requiring dental extractions.

Conflict of Interest
In accordance with the ADA CERP Standard V., everyone involved in planning or presenting this educational activity will be required to disclose any relevant financial relationships with commercial interests and this information will be made available to participants at the start of the course.

As a continuing education provider, UNC Adams School of Dentistry is responsible for ensuring the content, quality and scientific integrity of all continuing dental education activities for which credit is provided. The School is also responsible for taking steps to protect against and/or disclose any conflict of interest of the faculty/instructors presenting those courses.

Cancellation and Refunds

A registration refund, less a $15 fee, will be issued for cancellations received by Friday, March 29, 2024. Registration will remain open, however, when registering after Friday, March 29, 2024, NO REFUNDS will be accepted. Cancellations must be received in email to cde@dentistry.unc.edu The cancellation request must include: the name of the course, name of the person registered, name of the person requesting the cancellation, and the reason for the cancellation.

ADA Statement

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is committed to equality of educational opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran’s status, or sexual orientation. If you require reasonable accommodations for a disability in order to participate fully in this continuing education course, please call 919-537-3400 no later than Friday, March 29, 2024.

By providing my information, I consent to receive communication via mail, email, fax, and phone from the University to North Carolina Continuing Dental Education office. The Continuing Dental Education office will not share your information with anyone.

Dental education institutions have an obligation to disseminate new knowledge related to dental practice. In so doing, some presentations may include controversial materials or commercial references. Sponsorship of a continuing education course by the University of North Carolina does not necessarily imply endorsement of a particular philosophy, procedure, or product by this institution.

The University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry cautions continuing dental education participants that there are potential risks of using limited knowledge when incorporating new techniques and procedures into the practice of dentistry, especially when the continuing education course has not provided supervised clinical experience and/or competency tests in the techniques or procedures.