30 Chapter 2 Materials and Methods One hundred fifty-eight patients suffering from head and neck cancer were extracted from the overall population of head and neck cancer patients of the Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, MUMC). The authors made a list of patients for whom dental technician work had been done. Their medical files were then reviewed to determine if they were edentulous, had received an IOD or CD between January 2006 and January 2011, and if radiation therapy had been mentioned. All patients received an invitation and response letter for participation in this study. The total response rate was 68.4% (n = 108). Sixty-nine patients agreed to participate, 30 patients refused, 5 patients were not irradiated for various reasons, 1 patient died, 3 patients moved, and 50 patients did not respond to the letter. All patients ready to participate in the study were invited to visit the clinic to complete a questionnaire. They were assisted by a researcher. Of the 69 people invited by phone, 13 failed to show up for their appointment, 2 fell ill, 1 responded too late to the invitation, and 2 appeared but refused to answer the questions. 51 irradiated patients 32 men (62.7%) 19 women (37.3%) 32 implant-retained mandibular dentures (62.7%) 19 conventional mandibular dentures (37.3%) 22 surgeries for malignancy (71.9%) 10 had no surgery for malignancy (28.1%) 11 surgeries for malignancy (57.9%) 8 had no surgery for malignancy (42.1%) Figure 1 - Classification of the patients who completed the assessment and questionnaires. A total of 51 patients, 32 (62.7%) men and 19 (37.3%) women, completed the questionnaires (Fig 1). All patients were seen by the same researcher (LV). The oncological and medical history, as well as any current medications, were recorded. The following data were obtained: tumor classification according to the TNM classification, tumor location, oncological treatment, and whether or not the patient was irradiated by intense modulated radiation therapy (Table 1). The dimensions of the surgical defect in the mandible were classified as partial defects (box and slice osteotomies) and continuity defects, with or without bony reconstruction. There were five cases of maxillary resections. The center
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