What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a systematic review to determine the incidence and influencing factors of osteoradionecrosis following tooth extraction in patients who had received radiation therapy.
What They Found
The overall incidence of osteoradionecrosis after tooth extraction in irradiated patients was 7%. This incidence dropped to 4% with prophylactic hyperbaric oxygen and 6% with antibiotics, with mandibular extractions in fields receiving over 60Gy posing the highest risk.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients who have undergone radiation therapy and require tooth extractions should be aware of the 7% risk of developing osteoradionecrosis. Discussing prophylactic measures like hyperbaric oxygen or antibiotics with their dental and oncology teams may help reduce this risk, especially for high-risk extractions.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
A key limitation was that the evidence supporting the effectiveness of prophylactic hyperbaric oxygen was weak.