What Researchers Did
Researchers placed 20 dental implants in the irradiated mandibles of five patients who had undergone radiotherapy and surgery for oral malignant tumours, without using adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
What They Found
The radiotherapy dose ranged from 25 to 64 Gy (mean 40.3 Gy), with a biologically effective dose between 33.4 and 106.9. Out of 20 implants placed, 19 remained stable after 3 to 6 years of observation, with only one failing to osseointegrate.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients requiring dental implants after oral cancer treatment involving radiotherapy, this study suggests that adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy might not always be a mandatory step. This could potentially streamline their treatment process and reduce the overall burden of care.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
A significant limitation of this study is its very small sample size of only five patients.