If you have undergone radiation therapy to treat cancer, you may be wondering if you are eligible for dental implants. Generally, if the radiation was applied to lower areas of the body, you may be a good candidate for dental implants. However, if the radiation was applied to your neck or head, you may not be eligible for dental implants, as the radiation can adversely affect your jaw. The main risk of exposure to radiation in the jaw is that the dental implant is more likely to fail.
Dental implants refer to the surgical placement of artificial titanium, a screw-shaped tooth in the jaw that looks and works the same way as the natural tooth. In addition, implant failure increases when implants are placed in a previously treated bone because healing can take much longer. Data on demographic characteristics, tumor type, radiation therapy, implant sites, implant dimensions, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) were obtained from medical records and analyzed. At least one study suggests that exposure to radiation of 55 gray (Gy) is associated with a significantly higher risk of dental implant failure. In general, the farther the radiation treatment is from the mouth, the higher the success rate of dental implants.
Here are some factors to consider if you're considering dental implants or dentures after cancer treatments. Bone augmentation is a process used in dental surgery to replace or rebuild bone previously removed from the jaw during cancer surgery. Dental crowns and bridges are two forms of dentistry that are used to repair damaged teeth or replace teeth that have been lost. However, dental implants carry some risks, and these risks may increase if you have undergone radiation therapy to treat cancer. In osteonecrosis of the jaw, the maxillary bone begins to die out of control and can result in the loss of a large part of the maxillary bone beyond the implant area. The bottom line is that generally we can place dental implants for a patient who has undergone radiation therapy as part of treatment for head and neck cancer.
There are many factors you should consider when determining if you're eligible for dental implants after radiation therapy. Instead of resting on the gumline like dentures, implants are placed in the jaw to mimic the root of a tooth. He had been to another surgeon recently and had a consultation about dental implants and was told that he would need treatment with HBO (hyperbaric oxygen) before receiving dental implants. Dental implants are considered to be one of the best tooth replacement options available today. If you have had radiation therapy to your jaw and are considering getting dental implants, it is important to discuss your options with your dentist or oral surgeon.
They will be able to assess your individual situation and determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants.
