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Adverse late oral-health outcomes are common in head and neck cancer patients, particularly those who receive radiation therapy that can damage salivary glands and lead to dental caries, extractions, and implants.
To determine the safety of dental implants in head and neck cancer patients, investigators conducted a literature review that identified 21 studies (varying in size from 1 to 130 patients) that assessed the osseointegration (OI) and functional stability of dental implants in patients who had undergone treatment for oral cancer. Of these studies, 19 included patients who had received radiation therapy, and 2 included patients who received chemotherapy alone. Twenty studies reported on mandibular implants only, and 1 reported results…