What Researchers Did
Researchers retrospectively surveyed 80 head and neck cancer survivors who received dental implants after radiotherapy to assess long-term outcomes, peri-implant conditions, and patient satisfaction.
What They Found
Of 250 implants placed in 80 irradiated patients, 212 implants (84.8%) survived beyond 5 years. Implants in patients receiving less than 50 Gy radiation showed a higher survival rate (91.2%) compared to those with over 50 Gy (78.5%). Survival was also significantly better (90.5%) when implants were placed more than 12 months post-radiotherapy versus less than 6 months (75.3%).
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients who have undergone radiotherapy for head and neck cancer may achieve better long-term dental implant outcomes by delaying implant placement for over 12 months. Discussing radiation dose with their care team could also inform expectations for implant success.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
As a retrospective study conducted at two tertiary care centers, the findings may not be broadly generalizable to all patient populations.