Effects of Radiation on Oral Tissues

Cancer is a term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade other tissues. There are more than 100 different types of cancer (1). Cancer is the second most common disease in India responsible for maximum mortality with about 0.3 million deaths per year (2). Radiotherapy is a treatment that involves the use of high energy radiation, commonly used for the treatment of cancer (3). It works by damaging the genes (DNA) in cells. When the gene of the cancer cells is damaged, it cant grow or divide anymore. Overtime the cancer cell dies (4). Oral cancer is a deadly disease and if left untreated it will grow fast, destroys the orofacial structures and ultimately leads to the death of the patient. India stands first in the incidence of oral cancer as it is recorded that out of the total number of cancers in the different parts of the body 40 % of the cancers are oral cancers.