Synopsis: 

Beyond the Beam: Dental Care in the Irradiated Patient provides a focused overview of the landscape of head and neck cancer in the United States and how modern radiation therapy shapes dental care for oncology patients. The presentation begins with current epidemiologic trends in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, noting important shifts in disease patterns. It then introduces key radiation beam characteristics, absorption behavior, and contemporary delivery modalities to highlight their clinical relevance. The session concludes with a review of common radiation-induced side effects and their implications for restorative, prosthetic, and surgical treatment planning, offering evidence-based strategies for optimized care.

Learning Objectives:

1. Review of current US epidemiologic trends in head and neck SCC.
2. Understand therapeutic radiation beam characteristics, patterns of absorption, modern delivery modalities and their clinical relevance.
3. Discussion on common radiation induced side effects and their impact on treatment planning