Retrospective long‐term clinical evaluation of implant‐prosthetic rehabilitations after head and neck cancer therapy

Objective To assess clinical and patient-reported outcomes of implant-prosthetic rehabilitations in patients with a history head–neck cancer (HNC), treated tumor resection without (TR) or adjuvant radiotherapy (TR/RT). A healthy cohort rehabilitated the same reconstructive protocols served as control group (C). Materials Methods total 28 women 29 men were considered present retrospective study. Participants received 322 implants, finally supporting 79 prosthetic reconstructions. Primary outcome was assessment implant survival rates. Furthermore peri-implant soft tissue parameters (attached mucosa, AM; modified bleeding plaque indices, mBI/mPI; probing depth, PD) technical complications documented. Patient-reported measures (PROMs) by means visual analog scales (VAS) Oral Health Impact Profile German 14 form (OHIP G14) collected. For statistical purposes Chi-square Mann–Whitney-U-Test adapted. Results After mean follow-up 81.2 ± 50.3 months, rate 98.1% (HNC-TR), 98.2% (HNC-TR/RT) 100.0% (C), respectively (four implants failed HNC groups). HNC-TR/RT showed significant higher mPI mBI compared to C. Within HNC-TR/RT, vestibuloplasty significantly reduced PD values. No failures occurred at level. Overall, VAS scores reported for bar- Locator-retained prostheses. Furthermore, increased OHIP G14 values resulted HNC-TR/RT. Conclusions High rates on level observed. The use grafts stabilization mucosa irradiated patients. In terms retention chewing ability, participants preferred bars over Locator attachments.