title: Assessment of quality of life after implant-retained prosthetically reconstructed maxillae and mandibles postcancer treatments.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this prospective study was to assess treatment outcome and impact on quality of life with implant-retained prosthesis in reconstructed jaws in head and neck cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients were rehabilitated with implant-retained dental prosthesis following free fibular graft after segmental resection. These subjects were evaluated by standardized questionnaires European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 (version 3) and clinical assessment for quality of life. Objective assessment of speech parameters was done with Dr. Speech Software (Tiger DRS Inc., Seattle, WA). The questionnaire consisting of information on evaluation of deglutition, salivation, status of the mandible and teeth in relation to predisease level was used for subjective judgment of speech.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consumption of solid, semisolid, and overcooked food was considerably better with the prosthesis. Drinking ability was not affected. Patients' voice resonance was improved, and they could sustain phonation for longer duration without difficulty. They were able to speak loudly, and their intonation pattern was also slightly better. Failure of the implants to osseointegrate at the end of 18 months was observed in 37% of the patients. This was attributed to radiation before implant insertions and periimplantitis. Despite the observed improvement in some patients, the statistical analysis of speech, swallowing parameters, and quality of life were not significant because of the paucity of numbers in this pilot study. There was no improvement in the symptoms scale scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reconstruction and rehabilitation of the jaws affected by tumor restores the patient anatomically, esthetically, and functionally to optimum levels. However, a study with larger numbers of patients is necessary to ascertain the benefits of this treatment modality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental and Prosthetic Surgery, Tata Memorial Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. kdholam@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Kanchan P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Dholam
authors.forename: Gurmit K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Bachher
authors.forename: Prabha S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.forename: Gazwan Ahmed
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Quazi
authors.forename: Hrishikesh A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Pusalkar
mesh_terms: D016025:Bone Transplantation; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D015921:Dental Implants; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D020878:Device Removal; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery*; D008441:Maxillary Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000209:etiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000523:psychology*; D012472:Salivation / Q000502:physiology; D012931:Social Environment; D013065:Speech Intelligibility / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014833:Voice Quality / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants