title: Implant-supported rehabilitation after treatment of atrophic mandibular fractures: report of two cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this article is to present options of rehabilitation with dental implants in two cases of severely atrophic mandibles (<10 mm) after rigid internal fixation of fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two patients who sustained fractures in severely atrophic mandibles with less than 10 mm of bone height were treated by open reduction and internal fixation through a transcervical access. Internal fixation was obtained with 2.4-mm locking reconstruction plates. The first patient presented satisfactory bone height at the area between the mental foramens and after 2 years, received flapless guided implants in the anterior mandible and an immediate protocol prosthesis. The second patient received a tent pole iliac crest autogenous graft after 2 years of fracture treatment and immediate implants. After 5 months, a protocol prosthesis was installed in the second patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both cases, the internal fixation followed AO principles for load-bearing osteosynthesis. Both prosthetic devices were Branemark protocol prosthesis. The mandibular reconstruction plates were not removed. Both patients are rehabilitated without complications and satisfied with esthetic and functional results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With the current techniques of internal fixation, grafting, and guided implants, the treatment of atrophic mandible fractures can achieve very good results, which were previously not possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnosis and Surgery, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental School at Araraquara-Unesp, Rua Humaitá, 1680, Centro, Araraquara, SP, Brazil, CEP: 14801-903. le_benetti@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Leandro Benetti de
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnosis and Surgery, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental School at Araraquara-Unesp, Rua Humaitá, 1680, Centro, Araraquara, SP, Brazil, CEP: 14801-903.
authors.forename: Marisa Aparecida Cabrini
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gabrielli
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnosis and Surgery, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental School at Araraquara-Unesp, Rua Humaitá, 1680, Centro, Araraquara, SP, Brazil, CEP: 14801-903.
authors.forename: Mario Francisco Real
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Gabrielli
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnosis and Surgery, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental School at Araraquara-Unesp, Rua Humaitá, 1680, Centro, Araraquara, SP, Brazil, CEP: 14801-903.
authors.forename: Valfrido Antonio Pereira
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Pereira-Filho
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016474:Weight-Bearing
keywords: Branemark protocol prosthesis; Fracture atrophic mandible; Open reduction, mandibular reconstruction