Dental extractions related to head and neck radiotherapy: ten-year experience of a single institution

ObjectiveThis study evaluates the frequency of osteoradionecrosis associated with dental extractions.Study designA total of 405 patients submitted to radiotherapy and had dental extractions were evaluated. The patients were divided into 3 groups.ResultsIn group 1, 316 patients were submitted to 1.647 dental extractions (mean 5.2 teeth per patient) and in another 47 patients the number of teeth removed was not clearly reported. Group 2 comprised 5 patients who had 33 teeth extracted (mean 6.6 each). In group 3, 55 patients had 290 teeth removed (mean 5.3 each) and in another 2 patients the number of dental extractions could not be established. In general, only 3 cases of osteoradionecrosis related to dental extractions were observed: 2 related to exodontias performed before and 1 after radiotherapy.ConclusionsThe low prevalence of osteoradionecrosis found in this work suggests the possibility of performing exodontias after radiotherapy by experienced dentists in the management of head and neck cancer.