What Researchers Did
Researchers retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of 249 dental implants placed in 60 patients who had undergone radical oral cancer surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy.
What They Found
Osteoradionecrosis of the mandible occurred in 2 patients (3.4%), and soft tissue necrosis occurred in 3 patients (5.2%). The 5-year actuarial implant success rates in the irradiated mandible were 77.5% for the IMZ system and 83.6% for the Brånemark system, with 85.5% for Brånemark implants in the irradiated maxilla.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients who have undergone oral cancer surgery and radiation may consider dental implants as a viable option for tooth replacement, with high success rates observed. However, they should be aware of potential complications like osteoradionecrosis or soft tissue necrosis.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
A key limitation of this study is its retrospective design, which may introduce biases.