Conclusions
palate
ADVERSE REACTIONS, ADVERSE EFFECTS, ORAL MUCOSITIS
In summary, for OPC patients undergoing IMRT, the application of 3D-printed oral stents cannot significantly affect the positioning error but significantly reduces the exposure dose of the upper cheek and hard palate, thereby diminishing the incidence of adverse reactions, such as oral mucositis. However, we note that compared with advanced oral stents, such as methyl methacrylate resin, dental gum, and 3D printing, the materials used in this oral stent are not clinically used. Therefore, it is unclear whether there are any adverse effects. In addition, the number of cases enrolled in this study is relatively small. Consequently, our results are warranted to be further confirmed in future studies with large sample sizes.