Prosthodontic management of maxillectomy patients with dental implants in residual zygomatic bone: a preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
This report describes the 3-year follow-up of clinical and radiographic evaluation of soft and hard tissue outcomes for dental implants placed in residual zygoma in patients with surgical resections. Obturator retention and support, together with a questionnaire evaluation of the patients' satisfaction before and after insertion of implants, also were carried out.


METHODS
A novel approach to the palatomaxillary reconstruction of eight maxillectomy patients (mean age: 40 years) using dental implants inserted into the remaining zygomatic bone on the affected side and left unloaded for 3 months is described. Ball (O-ring) abutments were used with acrylic resin soft tissue conformers after surgical soft tissue thinning above the implants. All patients were radiographically evaluated and clinically documented at regular follow-up appointments.


RESULTS
The 3-year follow-up period showed no implant failures, stable peri-implant soft tissue level, and an increase in all of the patients' satisfaction with their implant-supported obturators.


CONCLUSIONS
Osseointegrated implants in residual zygomas are an integral part of oral rehabilitation strategies, with minimal cost and complications, for maxillectomy patients. This short-term record underscores both the potential of such management interventions and the importance of even longer-term clinical outcome documentation.
Wegdan Muhammad
WM
El-Sayed
Muhammad Ahmed
MA
Gad
Ahmed Muhammad
AM
Medra
D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D000328:Adult; D059605:Dental Implant-Abutment Design; D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D017268:Dental Prosthesis Retention / Q000295:instrumentation; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology; D010158:Palatal Obturators; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000145:classification; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult; D015050:Zygoma / Q000601:surgery*
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials