Survivor Smiles launches dental oncology practice for cancer survivors

Survivor Smiles has opened four offices serving cancer patients and survivors with specialized dental oncology care, including reconstruction after radiation, implants for irradiated jaws and MRONJ management. The practice also offers a 40% survivor discount and coordinates with oncology teams on treatment timing and insurance coverage.

Why it matters: - Cancer treatment can leave long-term oral damage that general dentistry is often not trained to handle. - Survivor Smiles is targeting a gap in care for patients who need reconstruction, implant planning and complication management after radiation, chemotherapy or bone-modifying drugs. - The practice offers a 40% discount for cancer survivors, which may make specialty care more accessible.

What happened: - Survivor Smiles, a dental oncology practice founded by Ryan S. Lee, DDS, launched with offices in New York, Plainville, Massachusetts, Riverside, Rhode Island, and Redding, Connecticut. - The practice focuses entirely on the dental needs of cancer patients and survivors. - Dr. Lee is a Northwestern University-trained dental oncologist with clinical experience at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

The details: - Survivor Smiles provides reconstruction after head and neck radiation. - The practice places dental implants for irradiated jaws. - Survivor Smiles manages medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw, or MRONJ. - The practice uses preventive protocols for xerostomia and radiation caries. - Dr. Lee’s treatment planning accounts for radiation dose maps, chemotherapy protocols and bone-modifying drug exposure. - Survivor Smiles coordinates directly with oncology teams to time procedures around active treatment and share findings that may affect cancer care. - The practice coordinates medical and dental insurance benefits for procedures that may qualify for medical coverage. - Out-of-pocket costs typically fall to about 60% of standard fees after the 40% survivor discount. - Survivor Smiles offers video consultations, staged treatment planning and coordination with local dental teams for follow-up care between visits. - Consultations are available at all four offices and by video for traveling patients. - More information about services and the patient care process is available at survivorsmiles.org.

Between the lines: - Dental oncology remains a narrow specialty, and the launch suggests growing demand for care tailored to cancer survivors’ long-term oral health needs. - Dr. Lee said many survivors have been told dental reconstruction is not possible or that dental care should be avoided during and after cancer treatment. - Dr. Lee said modern dental oncology offers real answers and that Survivor Smiles was built to provide them. - Dr. Lee’s work has been featured by the American Dental Association, Cancer Today magazine, Becker's Dental + DSO Review and Northwestern Magazine. - Dr. Lee also discussed dental care for bone marrow transplant survivors on the Marrow Masters podcast produced by the National Bone Marrow Transplant Link and joined a September 2026 webinar hosted by Support for People with Oral and Head and Neck Cancer.

What's next: - Survivor Smiles will continue seeing patients in person at its four offices and through video consultations for those traveling from other regions. - The practice is likely to lean on oncology coordination and staged care to manage complex survivor cases over time. - Patients seeking details on services or intake can contact the practice directly or visit the website for more information.

The bottom line: - Survivor Smiles is positioning itself as a dedicated dental oncology option for cancer survivors who need specialized, coordinated care that many general practices cannot provide.