Dental Implants and Cancer

26 Oct Dental Implants and Cancer

According to studies, a small percentage of malignant tumors originate in the neck and head, while others may be found in the oral cavity. In fact, about 90 percent of tumors in the oral region are caused by OSCC or oral squamous cell carcinoma. This is a common issue with older people, specifically men, due to alcohol and tobacco. Yet, there is an increasing number of middle-aged individuals at 40 years old or even children who suffer from this condition. Among the potential causes of this health problm include exposure of the body to ionizing radiation, nutritional deficiencies, as well as irritant components in dental implants.

Dental Implants and Cancer – Understanding the Link

Dental implantation is one of the most common means of tooth replacement for people who are in search of a more permanent solution to their missing teeth. When performed correctly, there should be no concerns as for medical issues or risks. This is also expected with proper maintenance and care of implants, as advised by dentists.

However, there are some scientific studies done on the link between dental implants and cancer. Complications may arise over time with improper care or inability of the patient to adhere to maintenance techniques recommended by their dentists. For instance, some complications that may be the outcome of these include hypertrophy, ulcers of soft tissues and edema. There have also been published cases of oral squamous cell carcinomas, which originate close to osseointegrated implants. In most instances, the mechanisms used may contribute to these complications, yet this still remains as a debatable issue due to insufficient evidences to back this claim.

Some researchers argue that the inflammation of the gingival attachment in the dental implant often experiences inflammation. Hence, cancer development follows because of certain mediators that take action along with this problem including prostaglandins and the tumor necrosis. Additionally, consumption of alcohol and tobacco use stimulate the problem, as well as poor oral hygiene and prosthesis that do not fit properly. Most cases of patients that develop oral squamous carcinoma have also been noted to suffer from cancer even before dental implantation.

Other issues that cause this type of cancer in the oral cavity among people with dental implants include nutritional deficiency and malabsorption of nutrients from food. A lesion develops rapidly because of poor absorption of nutrients starting at the stomach level, and this further irritates the implants – even with the absence of tobacco or alcohol in the system.

Bottom Line

Considering all these studies on the link between cancer and implants, it is evident that there are no established evidences on how squamous cell carcinoma develop on patients with dental implants. Nevertheless, there is a possibility that the inflammation present in adjacent tissues can speed up the development of the malignant tumor in the oral region.

Thus, it is best that patients undergo further evaluation before they undergo implant treatment. This is particularly true among those who are at greater risk of developing this health issue. A thorough check of the oral cavity must be done, which may involve a biopsy to obtain a more accurate diagnosis of the problem.