Dental implants cause cancer?! Implantation for cancer patients
Dental implants are the best way to replace lost teeth. However, there is concern among some people that the implant of this foreign and metallic object does not cause oral or blood cancer, and the implant is also one of the available options for replacing teeth for cancer patients. It is lost. Is it possible to implant a tooth? Does it not cause recurrence or metastasis in these cases?
Regarding the second part of the question, in general, dental rehabilitation is not an easy task for patients who have undergone cancer treatment with chemotherapy or radiation therapy, especially when the cancer is in the head and neck area. Often, when several or all of the teeth are directly in the line of radiation, they must be removed. For patients diagnosed with oral carcinoma, dental implants are usually the best option for replacing missing teeth. In this article, we provide comprehensive explanations in this regard.
Do dental implants cause cancer?
The concern regarding the relationship between dental implants and cancer is related to oral cancer or oral carcinoma. But by reading articles and research results, you will find that the main cause of oral carcinoma is lifestyle habits and consumption of alcohol and tobacco, According to studies and research, no connection has been found between dental implants and the development of cancer or the recurrence and metastasis of cancer.
Oral carcinoma or gingivitis
One of the errors that caused this concern about the implant being carcinogenic is the medical misdiagnosis in differentiating oral cancer and gingivitis. Gingivitis is a rare complication after implant placement that is completely treatable and has nothing to do with oral carcinoma.
Implantation for cancer patients after treatment
The success and excellent durability of dental implants depends on the support and resistance of the jaw bone. In cases such as bone diseases or as a result of radiation therapy for cancer, the density of this bone decreases. As a result, it has a negative effect on the success rate of dental implantation. For this reason, the doctor must perform the necessary examinations on bone density and other necessary conditions. For any type of cancer, you should consult with a specialist. For example, if you have experienced breast cancer, you should definitely consult with a breast surgeon.
Many patients can use implants as a replacement for their missing teeth after cancer treatment. The best implant specialist can solve the side problems and then perform the implant surgery.
Is there a connection between oral cancer and dental implants?
In general, no connection between dental implants and oral cancer has been observed. Things that can increase the risk of infection and failure of dental implants can be the following
- Patients do not take necessary care after dental implantation.
- Patients entrust the work to non-professional doctors who do not perform implant surgery well. This will cause inflammation of the gums and jawbone and cause problems.
- Patients use low-quality materials as implants because of the lower cost. Of course, this matter depends to a large extent on the doctor.
According to the above, we can understand that by choosing the best person as a doctor and performing the necessary care after the implant for cancer patients, the probability of getting cancer will be zero.
Radiotherapy and dental implants
Research has shown that the probability of implant success is lower for cancer patients who have undergone radiotherapy, especially in the head and neck region. This reduction in implant success rate is caused by changes in oral soft tissue and bone anatomy.
Radiotherapy radiation leads to the destruction of bone-regenerating cells (osteocytes, osteoblasts and osteoclasts). For this reason, they cannot support replacement teeth. In addition, damage to the blood vessels of the jawbone in the line of radiation also slows down the healing process. For this reason, only expert doctors can succeed in implanting dental implants for this category of patients. Of course, after the end of the treatment period, cells and bone tissue recover and the probability of success increases.
What are the risks of implants for cancer patients?
The probability of breaking a dental implant in people who are undergoing radiotherapy and various rays is two or three times higher than in normal people. For this reason, cancer patients may need repair in a shorter time. Of course, this issue is largely dependent on the type of implant and its brand.
If the jaw bone does not have the necessary density and the transplant is not done, there will be a possibility of damage to the implant and the bone. For this reason, it is necessary to carry out all necessary measures and examinations completely before planting.
Benefits of implants for cancer patients
Using different methods to replace missing teeth has many advantages for patients. Its first advantage is to improve the appearance of the patient. Teeth play an important role in the beauty of a person’s face and smile. For this reason, their absence creates an unpleasant effect. Other advantages of using implants for cancer patients include:
Stability of the patient’s jaw and gums:
When teeth are removed, the jawbone and gums in that area begin to erode. This issue may also cause problems with the side teeth. Implants can be implanted in the jawbone and between the gums like a natural tooth. Their presence prevents bone loss.
Ease of eating:
Cancer is painful enough, and anorexia and nausea after chemotherapy and radiation are no one’s favorite. Absence of teeth also aggravates this anorexia and inability to eat. For this reason, patients without implants may suffer from malnutrition. Replacing teeth can eliminate problems caused by the inability to chew food.
Key tips to achieve the best results from implant placement for cancer patients
To achieve the best results from dental implants, general health plays a major role. In general, the following measures promote the general health of the patient and help to improve the results of implantation.
Appropriate diet
The most basic advice that all dentists have for everyone is to have a balanced and healthy diet. Eat soft food that is easy to digest. Include nutritious liquids such as natural fruit juices, soups, yogurts, milkshakes and smoothies in your daily diet. Eating simple food such as mashed potatoes and green leafy vegetables also helps the dental implant surgery site to heal quickly.
Avoiding stress
Stress affects your health in many ways. Even some patients face problems due to their great fear of implants for cancer patients. This causes them to push their teeth together, which causes damage to the implants. Stress also disrupts blood supply to the gums and slows down the healing process of surgical wounds.
Thorough brushing
Do not apply too much pressure when brushing. It may cause the toothbrush brush to drag on the crevices of the implant area and cause bleeding. It is better to avoid brushing the area with the surgical wound until it heals. Using mouthwash, not smoking and following the doctor’s orders will help the surgical site to heal faster and implant success.
Post-implant care for cancer patients
Patients who are still undergoing cancer treatment and have implants should remain under the supervision of their doctor. The doctor guides them on face-to-face visits. But people who have recovered should take care of their implants just like everyone else. Actions that are recommended for care include;
- Avoiding stimulating the implants by hitting and pressing them.
- Do not eat very hot or very cold foods.
- Avoid eating foods at very different temperatures for short periods of time.
- Avoid biting food for at least a month or two.
- Refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol.
- Being under the full supervision of an implant specialist and oncology doctor.
