Surgical treatment of
malignancies in the oral cavity and subsequent
radiotherapy often result in an anatomic and physiological oral condition unfavorable for prosthodontic rehabilitation. The objective of this prospective study was to assess the effect of
hyperbaric oxygen therapy on treatment outcome (condition of peri-implant tissues, implant survival, oral functioning and quality of life) of prosthodontic rehabilitation with implant-retained lower
dentures in radiated
head and neck cancer patients 6 weeks and 1 year after placing the new
dentures. The treatment outcome was assessed in a group of 26 head
neck cancer patients who were subjected to
radiotherapy after tumour surgery. Standardized questionnaires were completed and clinical and radiographic assessments were performed. After randomization, endosseous Brånemark implants were placed in the anterior part of the mandible either under
antibiotic prophylaxis (13 patients) or under
antibiotic prophylaxis combined with pre and postsurgery hyperbaric
oxygen (HBO) treatment (13 patients). In the HBO and non-HBO group eight implants (implant survival 85.2%) and three implants (implant survival 93.9%) were lost, respectively. Peri-implant tissues had a healthy appearance in both groups.
Osteoradionecrosis developed in one patient in the HBO group. All patients functioned well with their implant-retained lower denture. The quality of life related to oral functioning and denture satisfaction were improved to a comparable extent in the HBO and non-HBO group. Implant-retained lower
dentures can improve the quality of life related to oral functioning and denture satisfaction in
head and neck cancer patients. Adjuvant
hyperbaric oxygen therapy could not be shown to enhance implant survival in radiated mandibular jaw bone.