Prosthetic rehabilitation of the head and neck: the state of the art.
OBJECTIVE
Cancer of the head and neck area is common worldwide. Rehabilitation of cancer patients can be done using a surgical and/or a prosthetic approach. This review presents the current trends in prosthetic rehabilitation of the head and neck area.


RESULTS
The literature is abundant with case reports describing prosthetic new techniques to rehabilitate patients with cancer of the head and neck area. However, limited evidence-based research exists on these techniques or on the science of materials used in prosthetic rehabilitation of patients with head and neck cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
The goals of the prosthetic rehabilitation of patients with head and neck cancer are management of speech and swallowing function, and the restoration of the original esthetics and functions of the bone and soft tissues. These goals remain a challenge. Dental implants are increasingly implemented to help in the prosthetic rehabilitation of patients with head and neck cancer.
Al Mardini
Majd
M
Department of Dentistry, Maxillofacial and Ocular Prosthetics, Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. majd.almardini@uhn.on.ca
D015921:Dental Implants; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019930:Mandibular Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods; D019931:Maxillofacial Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011788:Quality of Life; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018570:Risk Assessment
D015921:Dental Implants