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Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Associated with Dental Implants: A Literature Review with Focus on Field-Cancerized Mucosa
by
, , ,
Maria Cuevas-Nunez
1,2,*,
Cosimo Galletti
3,
Gianluca Tenore
4
,
Umberto Romeo
4
,
Rosa Ballester Victoria
5,
María José Biosca Gómez de Tejada
6,
Javier Bara-Casaus
2 and
Maria Teresa Fernández Figueras
5,7 1
College of Dentistry, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, C/de Josep Trueta, s/n, 08195 Barcelona, Spain
2
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital Univeritari Mutua Terrassa, 08221 Barcelona, Spain
3
Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Enna, 94100 Enna, Italy
4
Department of Oral Sciences and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
5
Pathology, Hospital Universitari General de Catalunya, 08195 Barcelona, Spain
6
Oral and Maxillofacial Surger, Hospital Universitari General de Catalunya, 08195 Barcelona, Spain
7
Medicina, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, UIC Barcelona International University of Catalonia, 08195 Barcelona, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Cancers 2026, 18(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18010017
Submission received: 7 November 2025
/
Revised: 16 December 2025
/
Accepted: 17 December 2025
/
Published: 19 December 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders and Oral Cavity Cancer)
Simple Summary
Dental implants are widely used to replace missing teeth and are generally considered safe. Recently, reports have described oral cancers developing near implants. Many of these cancers occurred in people who already had potentially malignant or malignant changes in the mouth lining, a condition known as field cancerization, where the tissue is genetically more vulnerable to developing cancer. To better understand this issue, we reviewed all published cases of oral cancer that appeared next to dental implants. Many patients had a history of potentially risky oral conditions, and early signs of cancer were sometimes mistaken for simple inflammation around the implant. Although these findings do not show that implants cause cancer, they indicate that implant placement and follow-up may warrant additional attentiveness in individuals with field-altered tissues. Careful evaluation of unusual changes and long-term monitoring could support earlier recognition of potential problems.
Abstract
Background: The oncologic safety of dental implants (DIs) in patients with oral field cancerization (OFC) remains uncertain. Increasing reports of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) developing adjacent to DIs have raised concerns regarding the interaction between implants, chronic inflammation, and genetically altered mucosa. Methods: A comprehensive PubMed/MEDLINE search was performed through June 2025 to identify English- or Spanish-language publications reporting primary OSCC occurring in proximity to DIs. Extracted variables included patient demographics, tumor site, clinical presentation, presence of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) or prior OSCC, peri-implant inflammation, management, and outcomes. Cases describing clinical features compatible with field-altered mucosa (e.g., OPMD or prior OSCC) were evaluated descriptively, recognizing that formal histopathologic or molecular evidence of OFC was rarely reported. Results: A total of 105 implant-associated OSCC cases were identified. The mean patient age was 66.8 years (range: 40–90), with a female predominance (1.3:1). The mandible was the most frequently involved site (86.7%). A prior history of OPMD or OSCC was reported in 53 patients (50.5%), and peri-implantitis preceding diagnosis in 21 cases (19.0%). The most common clinical presentations were exophytic (59.0%) and ulcerated (37.1%) lesions, frequently mimicking peri-implantitis and contributing to diagnostic delay. Reported outcomes included recurrence in 11 cases (10.5%) and death in 13 cases (12.4%). Conclusions: Current evidence suggests that implant-associated OSCC frequently occurs in patients with pre-existing mucosal alterations and may be influenced by the interaction of field cancerization with local inflammatory and mechanical factors. Implant rehabilitation in individuals with OPMD, prior OSCC, or epithelial dysplasia should be undertaken cautiously, with rigorous long-term surveillance to ensure oncologic safety.
