Abstract

ROLE OF AN ORAL PHYSICIAN IN PALLIATIVE CARE

Dr. K. Saraswathi Gopal, MDS* and M. Amala

ABSTRACT

The dentist’s play an important role in palliative care by improving the quality of life of the patient. Palliative care has gained importance in the recent years. A trained dentist will be a good team mate for the oncologist, radiotherapist and other doctors of the palliative care team. Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients in head and neck cancer patients and their families through the prevention and relief of suffering by early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other physical, psychosocial and spiritual problems. Dentist may the first to come across the solid tumors of head and neck region, oral manifestations of hematological malignancies, and other or diseases. So dentist is a very important part of palliative care and palliative care team. Dentists can play an important role in alleviating both the physical and psychological pain of terminally ill patients. This article emphasis the role of dentists in palliative care.

Keywords: Dentist, Oral Cancer; Palliative Care, Hospice, Pain, Quality Of Life, Terminally Ill.