What is the likely outcome of placing dental implants in irradiated bone?

Placing dental implants in irradiated bone is a complex procedure that carries inherent risks due to the effects of radiation on bone healing and integrity. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been shown to improve outcomes in such scenarios, as it can enhance the healing process, promote angiogenesis, and improve tissue oxygenation, which are critical factors for successful osseointegration.

When bone is radiated, its ability to heal is compromised, and the cellular and vascular responses are negatively affected, leading to a reduced overall success rate when using standard protocols for implant placement. However, when hyperbaric oxygen therapy is implemented, it provides supplemental oxygen that facilitates healing and can potentially restore some of the compromised functionality of the irradiated bone. This improvement in tissue health can lead to a higher success rate for implants placed in these challenging conditions.

In contrast, decreased success with standard protocols directly links to the known complications associated with irradiated bone, while failure to osseointegrate and a higher risk of infection are likely consequences of working with compromised bone, without the mitigating benefits of hyperbaric oxygen. Thus, the best answer is tied to the enhanced success achieved through the combined approach of surgical intervention and adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy.