• 10/12/2007
  • Memphis, TN
  • staff
  • DentalEconomics (www.dentaleconomics.com)

A case report published in Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research showed that hyperbaric oxygenation therapy could improve the success of dental implant treatment in patients who have undergone radiation treatments.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a method of delivering high concentration of oxygen to the body.

A side effect of radiation treatment is reduced blood supply, resulting in lower oxygen levels in the areas receiving radiation. This leads to problems with the healing of bones and tissues, and can possibly lead to bone death. Thus, surgical procedures such as dental implantation can be very risky.

The case report described a 45-year-old patient who wanted dental implants five years following radiation treatments for head and neck cancer. The patient received HBO treatments before and after implantation surgery. These treatments resulted in a successful implant, without complications such as infection or rejection.

This case report shows that HBO treatments in disease-free patients can result in successful dental restoration. Such restoration can greatly improve the patient’s quality of life.