A patient that has facial radiation loses everything alive i.e. tissue, gums, nerves to teeth. Of course their is exceptions to everything and some radiation is less severe than others. However, the patient I personally did a 10 unit lower bridge for had no tissue, just the jaw bone was showing and a couple prepped teeth (that were obviously necrotic, dead). The patient didn't have any sensitivity, everything was dead. This specific patient was diagnosed with mouth cancer from 14 years of chewing a can of copenhagen a day. I imagine the radiation guard is used to protect the upper jaw if getting the lower jaw radiated, or vice versa. I assumed the onocologist had someone make these for the patients, but I guess that dental labs do as well now. If you ever get a chance to see a mouth cancer patient that has radiation treatment and survived, take a look, it's a sight you won't forget.
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