Management of patients at risk of osteoradionecrosis: results of survey of dentists and oral & maxillofacial surgery units in the United Kingdom, and suggestions for best practice

We aimed to find out whether dental practitioners take specific measures to identify patients who are at risk of osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the jawbones; how oral and maxillofacial surgery units in the United Kingdom manage patients who have had radiotherapy and require dental extractions, and the evidence behind current practice. We sent postal questionnaires to 60 dentists and 117 maxillofacial units. Dentists were questioned about measures used to identify radiotherapy patients, and use of antibiotic prophylaxis. Maxillofacial units were questioned about the existence of written protocols and the measures used to minimise the risk of ORN. Thirty-five percent of dentists questioned ask specifically about head and neck cancer or radiotherapy as part of their medical history, and 5% of maxillofacial units questioned had written protocols for the management of patients who had had radiotherapy or had previously been diagnosed with ORN. Prophylactic antibiotics are recommended for patients at risk of ORN by 16% of dentists and 81% of maxillofacial units. Preoperative mouthwash is recommended by 59% of maxillofacial units. Identification of patients at risk of ORN is the first step in prevention but it is not done efficiently at present. Recommendations include the use of preoperative mouthwash and prophylactic antibiotics. Operations should be atraumatic and should be done by experienced clinicians.