Rehabilitation
The health care team will help you return to normal activities as soon as
possible. The goals of rehabilitation depend on the extent of the disease and
type of treatment. Rehabilitation may include being fitted with a dental
prosthesis
(an artificial dental device) and having dental implants. It also
may involve speech therapy, dietary counseling, or other services.
Sometimes surgery to rebuild the bones or tissues of the mouth is not possible.
A dentist with special training (a
prosthodontist) may be able to make you a
prosthesis to help you eat and talk normally. You may need special training to
learn to use it.
If oral cancer or its treatment leads to problems with talking, speech therapy
will generally begin as soon as possible. A speech therapist may see you in the
hospital to plan therapy and teach speech exercises. Often speech therapy
continues after you return home.
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