Incidence of complicated healing and osteoradionecrosis following tooth extraction in patients receiving radiotherapy for treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

A group of 43 patients requiring tooth extraction after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) was studied retrospectively to determine the incidence of post-extraction complications. It was found that because of the method used in the delivery of radiation, extraction of maxillary posterior teeth resulted in the greatest risk of complications (28.9 per cent), including a 10.5 per cent risk of osteoradionecrosis (ORN). Based on the findings, a protocol was established for the dental care of such patients. It was concluded that when extraction of maxillary posterior teeth was necessary, prophylactic antibiotics were not sufficient to prevent the complication of delayed healing. the risk of ORN was 10.5 per cent within the field of maximal radiation dose. Hyperbaric oxygen may be the better choice of preventive measures. However, in view of the low risk of ORN, wholesale prescription of hyperbaric oxygen therapy may not be indicated. An additional patient who had tooth extraction two weeks prior to radiotherapy was included to show that if adequate time for wound healing was not allowed, ORN could develop.