title: Prosthodontic rehabilitation of oral function in head-neck cancer patients with dental implants placed simultaneously during ablative tumour surgery: an assessment of treatment outcomes and quality of life.
abstract: The aim of this prospective study was to assess treatment outcome and impact on quality of life of prosthodontic rehabilitation with implant-retained prostheses in head-neck cancer patients. Fifty patients were evaluated by standardized questionnaires and clinical assessment. All received the implants during ablative tumour surgery in native bone in the interforaminal area. About two-thirds of the patients (n=31) needed radiotherapy post-surgery. Both in irradiated and non-irradiated bone two implants were lost 18-24 months after installation. Peri-implant tissues had a healthy appearance. No cases of osteoradionecrosis occurred. In 15 patients no functional implant-retained lower dentures could be made for various reasons. The other 35 patients all functioned well, with an improvement in quality of life. Major improvement was observed in the non-irradiated patients. In the irradiated patients, less improvement in many functional items was observed, while items related to the oral sequelae of radiotherapy did not improve. Similar to the quality-of-life assessments, denture satisfaction was improved and tended to be higher in non-irradiated than irradiated patients. Implant-retained lower dentures can substantially improve the quality of life related to oral functioning and denture satisfaction in head-neck cancer patients. This effect is greater in non-irradiated than irradiated cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Maxillofacial Prosthetics, University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. pjschoen@hccnet.nl
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Schoen
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Raghoebar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bouma
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reintsema
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Burlage
authors.forename: J L N
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Roodenburg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vissink
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported / Q000379:methods; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome