Incidence and prevention of osteoradionecrosis after dental extraction in irradiated patients: a systematic review.

Summary: For cancer survivors who have undergone radiation therapy to the head or neck, the thought of having a tooth pulled can be frightening due to the risk of osteoradionecrosis (severe bone damage). However, a comprehensive review of medical studies brings reassuring news: the overall risk is relatively low, affecting only about 7% of patients. The danger is highest for teeth in the lower jaw (mandible) and for patients who received high doses of radiation (over 60Gy). While antibiotics help keep the risk down to 6%, using hyperbaric oxygen therapy might lower it further to 4%, though the evidence for this specific treatment remains weak.