Survival of turned and roughened dental implants in irradiated head and neck cancer patients: a retrospective analysis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Dental implants placed into previously radiated fields in survivors of head and neck cancer can demonstrate survival rates that are less than optimal. Understanding this behavior may assist with treatment planning in accordance with expected survival rates in these patients. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the survival of implants with turned and roughened surfaces placed in patients who had previously received head and neck radiation, and to identify factors associated with implant failure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The records of 48 patients who had prior head and neck radiation and had 271 dental implants placed between May 1987 and July 2008 were examined. All of the implants were placed in a previously irradiated field dosed to at least 50 Gy. Implant survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and univariate Cox models with robust standard errors were fitted to evaluate the association between patient/implant factors and implant failure. RESULTS: There were 62 implants placed in the maxilla (32 roughened, 30 turned) and 209 implants (107 roughened, 102 turned) placed in the mandible. The 5-year implant survival rate for implants placed in the maxilla was 72.6% for turned implants and 87.5% for roughened implants. For implants placed in the mandible, the 5-year survival rate was 91.7% for turned implants and 100% for roughened implants. Among implants with a turned surface, implants were more likely to fail if they were placed in the maxilla (P=.008) and if the diameter was ≤3.75 mm (P=.002). CONCLUSIONS: Implants with turned surfaces were 2.9 times more likely to fail compared to the roughened dental implants, although the difference did not reach statistical significance. For implants with turned surfaces, there was a tendency for implants in the maxilla to fail more frequently compared to the mandible. Implants with turned surfaces had a higher likelihood of failure in the posterior region than in the anterior region. For implants with roughened surface there was no significant association between implant survival and location of the implant, type of bone, or length or diameter of the implant.

Survival of dental implants in irradiated head and neck cancer patients: a retrospective analysis.

PURPOSE: To study the long-term survival of dental implants placed in irradiated bone in subjects who received radiation for head and neck cancer. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A retrospective chart review was conducted for all patients who received dental implants following radiation treatment for head and neck cancer between May 1, 1987 through July 1, 2008. Only patients irradiated with a radiation dose of 50 Gy or greater and those who received dental implants in the irradiated field after head and neck radiation were included in the study. The associations between implant survival and patient/implant characteristics were estimated by fitting univariate marginal Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: A total of 48 patients who had prior head and neck radiation had 271 dental implants placed during May 1987 to July 2008. The estimated survival at 1, 5, and 10 years was 98.9%, 89.9%, and 72.3%, respectively. Implants placed in the maxilla were more likely to fail than implants placed in the mandible (p = .002).There was also a tendency for implants placed in the posterior region to fail compared with those placed in the anterior region (p =.051). CONCLUSION: Dental implants placed in irradiated bone have a greater risk for failure. Survival is significantly influenced by the location of the implant (maxilla or mandible, anterior or posterior).

Peripheral T-Cell lymphoma manifested as gingival enlargement in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form of leukemia in adults and is associated with increased risk of malignancy. T-cell lymphoma associated with CLL has never been reported. The case report presents a unique case of peripheral T-cell lymphoma on the gingiva of a patient with CLL. A 66-year-old man with a history of CLL was referred to the Mayo Clinic, Department of Dental Specialties, for evaluation of swelling in the upper left posterior sextant. An intraoral examination revealed a soft tissue swelling in the area of teeth number 13 and 15, including the present edentulous ridge between number 13 and 15. An incisional biopsy was performed on the palatal aspect of tooth No. 15 and submitted for histologic evaluation. The histopathology revealed proliferation of large atypical cells beneath the epithelium, positive for antigens CD2, CD3, Beta-F1, TIA-1, and Granzyme B consistent for a diagnosis of a peripheral T-cell lymphoma. A team approach including the hematologist, general dentist and periodontist resulted in timely referrals leading to an early diagnosis and early intervention and treatment.

Survival of dental implants in native and grafted bone in irradiated head and neck cancer patients: a retrospective analysis.

AIM: To study the long-term survival of dental implants placed in native or grafted bone in irradiated bone in subjects who had received radiation for head and neck cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted for all patients who received dental implants following radiation treatment for head and neck cancer between May 1, 1987 and July 1, 2008. Only patients irradiated with a radiation dose of 50 Gy or greater and those who received dental implants in the irradiated field after head and neck radiation were included in the study. The associations between implant survival and patient/implant characteristics were estimated by fitting univariate marginal Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: A total of 48 patients who had prior head and neck radiation had 271 dental implants placed during May 1987-July 2008. There was no statistically significant difference between implant failure in native and grafted bone (P=0.76). Survival of implants in grafted bone was 82.3% and 98.1% in maxilla and mandible, respectively, after 3 years. Survival of implants in native bone in maxilla and mandible was 79.8% and 100%, respectively, after 3 years. For implants placed in the native bone, there was a higher likelihood of failure in the maxilla compared to the mandible and there was also a tendency for implants placed in the posterior region to fail compared to those placed in the anterior region. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in survival when implants were placed in native or grafted bone in irradiated head and neck cancer patients. For implants placed in native bone, survival was significantly influenced by the location of the implant (maxilla or mandible, anterior or posterior).

Treatment of protruding osseo integrated dental implant.

Titanium dental implants have been used in the treatment of partial or complete edentulism. The height and width of the residual alveolus and surrounding anatomical structures can determine the proper position and path of insertion of dental implants. The following case report describes the treatment of a malpositioned osseo integrated dental implant with an apex perforating the buccal cortex of alveolar bone. A 61-year-old male was referred by his local dentist for the chief complaint of a swelling at site of tooth 14 where an implant was present. Intraoral clinical examination revealed an implant supported porcelain fused to metal crown replacing the maxillary right first premolar. A peri-apical radiograph of the implant revealed no signs of peri-implant bone loss or radiolucency. Surgical exploration and modification of the protruding implant. The area healed uneventfully without the need of explantation of the implant in site of tooth 14. We felt that the conservative treatment provided was prudent and treatment of choice and anticipate that the implant will most likely continue to function for a lifetime.

Staining of palatal torus secondary to long term minocycline therapy.

Minocycline and other tetracycline analogs are well known to cause discoloring of alveolar bone, teeth and other tissues. The present case reports palatine torus discoloring, in a 91-year-old patient, after long term minocycline therapy. The patient was presented with staining of the palatal torus resulting from prior minocycline use for three-and-a-half years. The diagnosis of minocycline staining of palatal torus was done during a routine hygiene examination. The patient was informed that the bluish appearance of the palatal torus was the result of long term minocycline use. The patient was not willing to discontinue the antibiotic and was not concerned about the appearance. The clinician should inform patients on long term minocycline therapy about the possible side effects of staining of the alveolar bone, teeth and other soft tissue.

A case report of metastatic adenocarcinoma of the gingiva.

Localized gingival enlargement is often associated with specific systemic medication, abscess formation, trauma or reactive lesions. Scant literature is available reporting enlargement of gingiva due the metastasis of adenocarcinoma from lung. The case report presents a unique case of an adenocarcinoma in the lung metastasizing to the buccal and lingual interdental papillae of teeth numbering 34 and 35. A 72-year-old female was referred to the Mayo Clinic with a recent diagnosis of metastatic stage IV adenocarcinoma of the left lung presented with an abnormal mass located on the left posterior buccal keratinized tissue adjacent to teeth numbering 34-35. Biopsy of the lesion was performed for CK7, CK20, TTF-1 and p63. The tumor cells were positive for CK7 and TTF-1, and weakly positive for p63 suggesting a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. The periodontist may be in the unique position to be the first oral health care provider to evaluate any biopsy suspicious intra-oral lesions.