What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a systematic review of literature published between 1990 and June 2012 to evaluate the effect of radiation therapy on osseointegrated dental implant survival in oral cancer patients.
What They Found
Out of 38 eligible articles, the overall implant survival rate was 88.9% when radiation therapy occurred pre-implantation and 92.2% when it occurred post-implantation. For pre-implantation radiation, mandibular implants showed a higher survival rate (93.3%) compared to maxillary (78.9%) or grafted bone (87.5%), and a radiation dose above 55 Gy significantly decreased implant survival.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian oral cancer patients considering dental implants after radiation therapy can expect good survival rates, especially if radiation occurs post-implantation or if implants are placed in the mandible. Discussing the timing of radiation, implant site, and radiation dose with their care team is crucial to optimize implant success.
Canadian Relevance
This systematic review does not have a direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The systematic review may be limited by the heterogeneity of the included studies and potential publication bias.