The nasopalatine canal as an anatomic buttress for implant placement in the severely atrophic maxilla: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to present an alternative treatment concept for the rehabilitation of the atrophic maxilla that used the nasopalatine canal as an anatomic buttress for dental implant insertion and to assess patient satisfaction with this treatment.


METHODS
The inclusion criterion for the study consisted of the presence of severe resorption of the edentulous maxilla (Class V according to the Cawood and Howell classification). In each patient, one implant was positioned in the nasopalatine canal. Additional implants were also placed in the remaining maxillary bone. The patients were followed for a minimum of 2 years after prosthesis connection. Satisfaction with the prosthesis was evaluated after 12 months using a visual analog scale.


RESULTS
Seven patients with severely resorbed edentulous maxillae received a total of seven implants in the nasopalatine buttress and 29 implants posterior to this structure. One of the seven implants in the nasopalatine canal was lost during the osseointegration phase. All patients had stable prostheses at the end of the observation period. Patients were satisfied with comfort and stability, ability to speak, ease of cleaning, and esthetics and function of the prosthesis. Five patients experienced minor sensory alterations during the first weeks after surgery. At the final examination, which took place after a mean of 5 years (range, 3 to 7 years), all patients expressed the presence of normal sensation.


CONCLUSIONS
It appears that implants in the nasopalatine canal may be a viable treatment approach for the rehabilitation of the severely atrophied maxilla. Patients were satisfied with a prosthesis supported by implants in the nasopalatine canal.
Peñarrocha
Miguel
M
Valencia University Medical and Dental School, Valencia, Spain. miguel,penarrocha@uv.es
Carrillo
Celia
C
Uribe
Roberto
R
García
Berta
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000601:surgery; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D015921:Dental Implants; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003827:Denture, Complete, Upper; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000601:surgery*; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology
D015921:Dental Implants