THERAPEUTIC AND PREVENTIVE MANAGEMENT OF OSTEORADIONECROSIS

Abstract

Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is one of the most serious secondary consequences in patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy. It is a disease in which the irradiated bone becomes devitalized and exposed through the loss of skin and mucosa integrity, persisting without healing. The aim of the present study was to review the literature on the preventive and therapeutic management of ORN in the jaws. The study consists of a literature review elaborated through a bibliographic survey in the PubMed and Virtual Health Library (BVS) databases, using the descriptors “osteoradionecrosis”, “radiotherapy” and “dental care”. Aspects related to prevention and the different forms of treatment of ORN were identified, such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy, pharmacological and surgical approach. It was concluded, through the information obtained in the literature, that prevention is still the best conduct, with the dentist being one of the fundamental professionals in this context. Regarding treatment, it is observed that there is usually a combination of conservative measures and surgical resection, the most used being topical or systemic antibiotic therapy.