title: Improvement in oral function following tumour surgery by a combination of tongue plasty by the Steinhäuser technique and osseointegrated implants.
abstract: Oral functions such as speaking, chewing and swallowing are often reduced after ablative tumour surgery in the mouth and oropharynx. For restoration of at least a part of these functions, stable dentures and satisfactory mobility of the tongue are necessary. Dental implants can be used to achieve stable dentures. Pre-implant surgery, however, is often needed to reduce the amount of bulky tissue when myocutaneous flaps have been used for reconstruction, and to achieve adequate mobility of the tongue. A combination of tongueplasty by the Steinhäuser technique and osseointegrated implants will be described and discussed. Twelve patients have been treated by this technique between 1992 and 1995, with a mean follow up of 11.6 months. All patients reported an improved tongue mobility and ability to chew. Tongueplasty by the Steinhäuser technique with secondary epithelialization, in combination with osseointegrated implants, is a simple and effective means of improving oral function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kwakman
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Voorsmit
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Freihofer
mesh_terms: D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D015921:Dental Implants; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000502:physiology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000637:transplantation; D013516:Oral Surgical Procedures, Preprosthetic / Q000379:methods; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D016348:Osseointegration; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000473:pathology; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000473:pathology; D014059:Tongue / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014727:Vestibuloplasty / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants