Inclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria

Randomised controlled trials

Any trials which are not randomised controlled trials

Include patients who have suffered from head and neck cancer and have had either radiotherapy alone or radiotherapy in conjunction with surgery and/or chemotherapy

Patients who have not had radiotherapy

Sample should be randomly selected to have either extraction of teeth in the primary beam of radiation or leave these teeth in situ or compare with extraction post‐radiotherapy

Diagnosis and tumour staging should be noted

Radiation field and dose should be noted

Oral health care pre‐radiotherapy, during radiotherapy and post‐radiotherapy should be noted

Timing of extractions in relation to radiotherapy should be noted

Site of extractions should be noted (molars, premolars, canines, incisors)

Number of extractions should be noted and method of extraction should be described (antibiotic cover, surgical extraction, if post‐radiotherapy ‐ with or without hyperbaric oxygen)

Patient demographics should be noted (age, gender, tobacco status, alcohol status/general and dental health)

Follow‐up time should be clearly stated (with or without dental maintenance)

Any interventions post‐radiotherapy should be noted