Prediction of wound healing status following dental extraction using Adapted-University of Connecticut osteonecrosis numerical scale: A retrospective study

Background and Aims: There is a scarcity of evidence concerning the use of aprognostic instrument for predicting normal healing, delayed healing, andmedication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) occurrence following toothextraction in medically compromised patients. The present study aimed to predicthealing outcomes following tooth extraction in medically compromised patientsusing an Adapted‐University of Connecticut osteonecrosis numerical scale(A‐UCONNS).Methods: The digital medical records of medically compromised patients werereviewed, who underwent tooth extraction. The A‐UCONNS parameters includedthe initial pathological condition, dental procedures, comorbidities (smoking habits,type and duration of medication, and type of intervention), and administeredantiresorptive (AR) medications. Each parameter was assigned a different weight,and the scores were then accumulated and classified into three categories: minimalrisk (less than 10), moderate risk (10−15), and significant risk (16 or more). Thepatient's healing status was categorized as normal healing, delayed healing, orMRONJ.Results: A total of 353 male patients (mean age: 67.4 years) were recruited from apool of 3977 patients, where 12.46% of patients had delayed wound healing, and18.69% developed MRONJ. The median A‐UCONNS scores for MRONJ were higherbased on initial pathology, comorbidity, and AR drugs compared to normal ordelayed healing. In addition, a significant relationship existed between A‐UCONNSand healing outcomes (p < 0.05), with a unit increase in A‐UCONNS associated with1.347 times higher odds of experiencing MRONJ compared to normal healing. Incontrast, a low score was linked to an increased likelihood of normal wound healing.Conclusion: The A‐UCONNS could act as a promising tool for predicting woundhealing outcomes. It can provide clinicians the ability to pinpoint patients at high risk and allow tailoring of patient‐specific strategies for improving healing outcomesfollowing tooth extraction.