Dental implants for patients who have had radiation treatment for head and neck cancer.

Implant therapy is no longer considered impossible for patients who have received radiation treatment. However, the risk of osteoradionecrosis and failed osseointegration are barriers to implant therapy for this population. This paper reviews the published literature on the effects of radiation on tissue, such as osteoradionecrosis, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and evaluates implant therapy in patients who have received radiation treatment, focusing on treatment of the mandible. Recommendations for dentists planning implant therapy for patients who have had radiation treatments are presented.