title: Quality of implant anchored craniofacial and intraoral prostheses: patient's evaluation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bone-anchored prostheses have become a major issue in the rehabilitation of patients with facial defects. The objective of this study was to analyze how patients perceived the quality of implant-retained orbit, ear, nose, maxilla, or partial face prosthesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients' satisfaction from implant-retained prostheses usage was evaluated by a group of 30 patients with various facial defects. The survey referred exclusively to oncologic patients. Surveyors were classified basing on their age, sex, and defect localization, and their satisfaction was assessed by standardized questionnaire with 6-grade scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, acknowledging some weaknesses, such as reduced condition of surrounding soft tissue and necessity to enhance hygienic care, most of the patients assessed their prostheses as "good" emphasizing excellent mechanical retention and high wearing comfort. More detailed analysis revealed itemized outcome: (i) auricular prosthesis was indicated as the most comfortable solution by the patients; (ii) women and patients older than 55 years were more satisfied with the treatment results than men and patients younger than 55 years; and (iii) implant-retained prostheses were generally rated better than conventional adhesive-retained solutions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the study proved that generally implants improve the satisfaction of patients with craniofacial prostheses. However, the actual level of satisfaction depends, to a large extent, on the defect's localization, sex, and age of the patient.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Plastic and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, DONAUISAR Medical Center, University Teaching Hospital of Hannover Medical School, Deggendorf; †"Epitek" Prosthetic Center, Hockenheim; and ‡Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smolarz-Wojnowska
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raithel
authors.forename: Nils Claudius
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Gellrich
authors.forename: Cornelius
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004431:Ear, External / Q000601:surgery*; D005145:Face / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose / Q000601:surgery*; D009915:Orbit / Q000601:surgery*; D020273:Orbital Implants; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D053441:Suture Anchors; D055815:Young Adult