What Researchers Did
Researchers placed 103 dental implants in the irradiated jaws of 17 oral cancer patients (aged 47 to 78 years) and followed them for 1 to 62 months after implant loading.
What They Found
The cumulative survival rate of dental implants after one year was 97% in the mandible and 92% in the maxilla. The irradiation dose did not appear to affect implant survival, suggesting that irradiation for oral cancer treatment may not reduce implant survival compared to non-irradiated jaws.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients who have undergone radiation therapy for oral cancer may still be good candidates for dental implants, potentially improving their quality of life and oral function. This suggests that the long-term success of dental implants in irradiated jaws could be comparable to those placed in non-irradiated jaws, offering a viable restorative option.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was not conducted in Canada or with Canadian participants.
Study Limitations
This preliminary report involved a small number of patients and implants, and the potential influence of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on implant survival was noted.