Osteoradionecrosis
Signs and Symptoms

Many people don't experience symptoms for months or even years after radiation treatment. Symptoms are usually identified after a subsequent dental surgery or other major procedure in head and neck cancer survivors.

Certain factors increase the risk of developing osteoradionecrosis, such as receiving both radiation and chemotherapy, smoking during treatment, and the location and size of the tumor being treated.

Symptoms include:

• Limited range of motion of jaw
• Pain that occurs at rest
• Jaw or facial swelling
• Exposure of the mandible or maxilla, which are the upper and lower jaw