Exposed bone after head and neck cancer radiation therapy

The incidence of exposed bone may be concerningly high in patients with head and neck cancer who underwent post-radiation therapy dental extractions.

Exposed bone is a known risk factor for osteoradionecrosis. Current recommendations advise clinicians to perform dental extractions prior to radiation therapy to minimize this risk.

In a study published in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, investigators assessed the safety of post-radiation therapy dental extractions in 50 patients with nonrestorable teeth undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer between January 2020 and September 2022.

The investigators found that 40% of the patients developed exposed bone following post-radiation therapy dental extractions vs. 7% among those who didn’t undergo dental extractions. Among the 13 patients who were diagnosed with exposed bone, eight of them developed osteoradionecrosis.

The findings indicated that post-radiation therapy dental extractions may carry a significant risk of complications, even those performed within the suggested four-month window.

Read more: JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery

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