Implant-supported edentulous maxillary obturators with milled bar attachments after maxillectomy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of implants and milled bar supported edentulous maxillary obturators following the surgical ablation of maxillary tumors.


METHODS
Seven patients with malignant tumors of the maxilla were studied. All patients underwent partial or total maxillectomy. Implants were installed in the remaining maxilla and milled bar supported obturators were fabricated. Masticatory efficiency, biting abilities, speech function, and changes in the marginal bone level around the implants were evaluated without the prostheses, with the previous prostheses, and with the implant-supported prostheses.


RESULTS
All implants were osseointegrated. All patients wore milled bar supported obturators and masticatory and speech functions markedly improved. There was no complication during the follow-up period.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that a maxillary obturator supported by milled bar attachments is useful for oral rehabilitation in patients with resected edentulous maxilla.
Fukuda
Masayuki
M
Division of Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, Akita, Japan. fukuda@med.akita-u.ac.jp
Takahashi
Tetsu
T
Nagai
Hirokazu
H
Iino
Mitsuyoshi
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001732:Bite Force; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000145:classification; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D015921:Dental Implants; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003779:Denture Design; D003781:Denture Retention; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery*; D008441:Maxillary Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology; D010158:Palatal Obturators; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology
D015921:Dental Implants