title: Survival of dental implants in patients with oral cancer treated by surgery and radiotherapy: a retrospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the survival of dental implants placed after ablative surgery, in patients affected by oral cancer treated with or without radiotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected data for 34 subjects (22 females, 12 males; mean age: 51 ± 19) with malignant oral tumors who had been treated with ablative surgery and received dental implant rehabilitation between 2007 and 2012. Postoperative radiation therapy (less than 50 Gy) was delivered before implant placement in 12 patients. A total of 144 titanium implants were placed, at a minimum interval of 12 months, in irradiated and non-irradiated residual bone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Implant loss was dependent on the position and location of the implants (P = 0.05-0.1). Moreover, implant survival was dependent on whether the patient had received radiotherapy. This result was highly statistically significant (P < 0.01). Whether the implant was loaded is another highly significant (P < 0.01) factor determining survival. We observed significantly better outcomes when the implant was not loaded until at least 6 months after placement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the retrospective design of this study could be affected by selection and information biases, we conclude that a delayed loading protocol will give the best chance of implant osseointegration, stability and, ultimately, effective dental rehabilitation.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pompa
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Caserta 272/A, Rome, Italy. matteo.saccucci@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saccucci
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Carlo
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brauner
authors.forename: Valentino
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Valentini
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Carlo
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guarino
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polimeni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods; D015921:Dental Implants; D017268:Dental Prosthesis Retention; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000601:surgery; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D008437:Maxilla / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000601:surgery; D008441:Maxillary Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants