Tom, I was told very clearly by my oral surgeon that the risk of ORN never goes down after radiation. Anytime the bone is exposed, there is a risk, whether it is two years or twenty years later. He also told me the same thing Joanna said about hyperbaric oxygen --it temporarily protects (usually) against ORN if you need oral surgery but probably doesn't change the longer term risk--you'd need it again for it to help again.

Nelie


SCC(T2N0M0) part.glossectomy & neck dissect 2/9/05 & 2/25/05.33 IMRT(66 Gy),2 Cisplatin ended 06/03/05.Stage I breast cancer treated 2/05-11/05.Surgery to remove esophageal stricture 07/06, still having dilatations to keep esophagus open.Dysphagia. "When you're going through hell, keep going"