Can You Have Dental Implants After Radiation Therapy?
In most cases, dental implants are the best tooth replacement option out there. However, dental implant treatment may not be suitable for all patients. These include patients who have undergone a significant amount of radiation therapy, for treatment of cancer, particularly in the head or neck area. Read on to find out more about whether dental implants after radiation therapy is a better option or not.
Higher Risk of Dental Implant Failure
Anyone who has experienced radiation therapy and would like to get dental implants should consider the fact that their risk of dental implant failure will be significantly higher than that of other patients. In fact, the dental implants might be two or three times more likely to fail, if the radiation has affected the jaw bone.
Risk of Osteonecrosis of the Jaw
There is also a minor risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw for those who have had radiation therapy. Osteonecrosis is a severe bone disease that has also been connected to bisphosphonate therapy, another element of some cancer treatments.
Location of Cancer & Radiation
Your eligibility for dental implants after radiation therapy can depend on where in the body cancer was treated. Modern medicine often allows radiation treatment today to be focused on a single area, so if you were given radiation therapy on any area of the body or organ further down, such as the liver or breast, and the treatment was very focused, you may be okay to go ahead with dental implants. Radiation on the head or neck is likely to have caused more damage to your jaw, making you an unsuitable candidate for dental implants.
The amount of radiation you experience can also have an impact. Radiation of 55 Grays and over can significantly increase the risk of dental implant failure and complications.
Don’t Forget Past Treatment
Many patients mistakenly believe that because their radiation treatment was many years ago, it may no longer be relevant. This is not the case, even radiation from decades past can cause a major issue in terms of heightening dental implant risks. It is essential you tell your dental implant doctor about all radiation therapy, no matter how long ago it was.
Ask Your Oncologist
There are numerous individual considerations to take into account when determining whether dental implants are right for you, post-radiation therapy. The best thing you can do is to consult with your oncologist, and with your dental implant treatment provider. It is essential that you seek personal advice from professionals that know your medical history before making your decision regarding dental implants after radiation therapy treatment.
Ask EON Clinics Dental Implants
At EON Clinics, we are keen to ensure every patient is confident in their choice to go ahead with dental implants, and are here to help you make the right choice for you. We will take into account your medical history and likelihood of dental implant success. If you have any questions about radiation therapy and dental implants, or other medical treatments that might affect your eligibility to become a dental implant patient, simply get in touch with the EON Clinics team.
Explore your dental implant treatment options by contacting our dental implant specialists in Chicago and Waukesha for dental implants after radiation therapy. Call us at 800-250-3500 or schedule your complimentary consultation online.