Microbial Profiles of Osteoradionecrosis Lesions: A Case Report With Implications for Implant-Related Infections

Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) lesion, a significant late toxicity associated with radiotherapy for head and neck cancer, may serve as a suitable habitat for the accumulation of important oral pathogens, which may increase the risk of implant-related infections and rehabilitation failures in patients with dental implants. This clinical report assessed the microbial profile on the ORN lesion, the dental implant located adjacent to the lesion and in the contralateral area, and the saliva of a patient attended dental service from a public cancer institute. The patient was subjected to surgical debridement of ORN but it persisted. This suggests that ORN lesions may serve as microbial reservoirs, posing a significant risk factor for biofilm-related oral infections.