Does the advent of modern implant systems and refinement of free flap techniques negate the effect of radiotherapy in patients with oral cancer undergoing dental implant-based oral rehabilitation?

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to see whether the advent of modern implant systems, and the refinement of free flap techniques, negate the effect of radiotherapy in patients with oral cancer who undergo dental implant–based oral rehabilitation. Materials and method: A retrospective study was performed to look at the success rates of implants placed in all patients, in a 3 year period at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. Survival rates in irradiated patients were compared with success rates in patients who did receive radiotherapy. Results and conclusions: The rate of failure is comparable in the no radiotherapy group (1.12%) and post-radiotherapy group (1.76%). Our study shows that there was no significant difference in survival when implants were placed in native, grafted bone or in free flap reconstructions in irradiated head and neck cancer patients. Ultimately, the current evidence is not strong enough to prove whether the advent of modern implants systems, and the refinement of free flap techniques, does negate the effect of radiotherapy in patients with oral cancer undergoing dental implant–based oral rehabilitation. There is a need to perform a prospective clinical trial to observe clinical outcomes in both patients who have received radiotherapy and those who have not received radiotherapy