Prince George, B.C.- The Northern Cancer Centre has joined forces with the College of New Caledonia to ensure   patients with head and neck cancers are free of dental infections before starting cancer treatment.

 

Patients will receive a referral to the college’s dental clinic prior to the start of their cancer treatment to ensure their mouths are free of any infections. The dental care is mandatory before patients can receive cancer treatment.

 

Cancer patients who do not have a dentist and are from Prince George or out of town are eligible for this service.

 

“Dental assisting and dental hygiene students will provide them with oral hygiene services such as special fluoride trays and digital radiographs (X-rays) that can be sent to the cancer agency,” said Leslie Battersby, CNC Dental Studies co-ordinator. “Second-year hygiene will also provide them with (plaque removal) above and below the gums and oral hygiene instruction.”

 

Patients then go to the cancer agency for their treatment and return to CNC for their maintenance. For patients without a dentist, there is a $30 charge for a patient’s hygiene care and X-rays and $50 for fluoride and trays.