What Researchers Did
Researchers systematically reviewed existing literature to understand how radiation therapy affects the success of craniofacial and dental implants in bone.
What They Found
The review summarized 11 animal studies and 16 human clinical studies, which included 8 on craniofacial and 8 on dental implants. They found that bone exposed to radiation has a higher risk of implant failure compared to bone that has not been irradiated. This increased risk could be up to 12 times greater, though the quality of the studies varied.
Canadian Relevance
This study covers the effects of radiation on bone and implants, which is relevant to Health Canada-recognised indications like osteoradionecrosis, a form of delayed radiation injury.
Study Limitations
The authors noted that the studies comparing implant success in irradiated versus non-irradiated bone were of poor to moderate quality, meaning the exact magnitude of increased risk should be viewed cautiously.