Oral Cancer Patients Rebuilding with Dental Implants

As with any form of cancer, there comes great stress when being diagnosed with oral cancer.

The disease has the potential to spread to other areas of the body in the worst case situations and even in the less severe cases, there is a good chance that tooth loss with occur.

However, dentists are helping to quell the concerns of patients as a result of the fairly recent invent of dental implants.

After resection of oral cancer, studied patients received the implants, which rest beneath the gum line and act as a sort of anchor for man-made teeth replacements. Performed in and around Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia, the research was based on the experiences of thirty-one patients’ post-cancer diagnosis.

These patients received implants between 1992 and 2007 and their dental paths were then followed throughout the years thereafter. Researchers sought information regarding any difficulties experienced, the type of implants used, and details regarding supplemental procedures.

There was a very high retention rate, with only five failures out of the one hundred fifteen total implants placed. However, it was noted that, while oral cancer survivors would likely benefit from the artificial replacements, there is increased danger of implant failure in areas of irradiated free flap bone.

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