title: Fixed partial dentures on two implants: raising comfort in irradiated edentulous patients.
abstract: Surgical treatment of malignancies involving the oral cavity often results in an altered anatomical situation, which may severely hamper oral function. Postoperative radiotherapy resulting in reduced salivary secretion further worsens functions such as speech, chewing (mastication) and swallowing. In order to improve oral functioning, the use of dental implants was proposed. To reconstruct the edentulous mandible, especially in cases involving postoperative irradiation, implant-borne prosthetic construction on four permucosal implants has been advocated, but this treatment concept has some practical drawbacks. As the chewing force is reduced as a result of irradiation of the masticatory muscles, it is hypothesized that a fixed prosthetic construction on only two implants is a feasible alternative. Up until now 10 patients have been treated successfully according to this concept at the authors' clinic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Prosthodontics and Special Dental Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands. drgjmeijer@orange.nl
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Meijer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koole
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cune
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D015921:Dental Implants; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003779:Denture Design; D003781:Denture Retention; D003828:Denture, Overlay; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009060:Mouth Floor / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D017060:Patient Satisfaction
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants