Radiotherapy-associated dental extractions and osteoradionecrosis.

Abstract

Preradiotherapy dental extractions often form a part of the management plan for patients treated with radiotherapy for head and neck cancers in order to prevent complications, such as osteoradionecrosis. There is contention about whether these extractions should be performed and the timing of such extractions. The purpose of this study was to determine if pre-RT extractions were associated with the development of osteoradionecrosis of the jaws. Retrospective data on patients treated with RT for oropharyngeal cancer were pooled with a cross-sectional survey. Pre-radiotherapy dental extractions were associated with a statistically significant increase in the risk of developing ORN. Pre-radiotherapy dental extractions do not protect against the development of osteoradionecrosis. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 128-132, 2017.