Intra‐ and Extraoral Prostheses Retained by Zygoma Implants Following Resection of the Upper Lip and Nose

Abstract

Upper lip cancers are infrequent lesions, being aggressive unless diagnosed and treated early. After the surgical resection, maxillofacial defects require special care in rehabilitation. This article describes the maxillofacial rehabilitation of an edentulous patient diagnosed with upper lip squamous cell carcinoma. The treatment consisted of a large amount of upper lip and nose tissue resection, followed by chemoradiotherapy. After the first surgical healing, zygoma implants were inserted in a two-step procedure. The maxillary and nasal prostheses were installed and fixed by a titanium framework. After 6 years follow-up, no recurrences were observed, and the patient did not develop metastases. Tissues around implants were in good health, and the prostheses remained well-fitted. The use of implant-retained prostheses improved the quality of life, and the patient was extremely satisfied with the final result. The implant-retained prostheses are well accepted by the patient, improving comfort and safety during function while recovering her esthetic apperance.

Zygomatic implant‐based rehabilitation for patients with maxillary and mid‐facial oncology defects: A review

“…Where patients were rehabilitated with fixed‐removable prostheses, authors tended to favour a milled bar to support an overdenture with a secondary casting or nylon inserts (Celakil et al, 2015; Dawood, Collier, Darwood, & Tanner, 2015; Gonçalves et al, 2015; Hirsch, Howell, & Levine, 2009). Bars can be further modified with attachments such as Rhein attachments to aid prosthetic retention (Dattani et al, 2017).…”

Advancements in craniofacial prosthesis fabrication: A narrative review of holistic treatment

“…After twelve months, no signs of adverse outcomes were present 46. Similarly, the zygomatic arch may be a potential site for implant placement, especially for patients with oral cavity or upper lip cancers requiring excision 49. More studies should be carried out in the future to consider novel sites of implant placement for nasal prostheses.…”

Role of Implants in Maxillofacial Prosthodontic Rehabilitation

“…Dental implants are essential to restore aesthetics and function and subsequently quality of life in such group of patients. Zygomatic implants reduce the complications associated with bone grafting procedures and simplify the rehabilitation of atrophic maxilla and maxillectomy [65,66]. Studies using three-dimensional finite element analysis were carried out to study the impact of different levels of zygomatic bone support (10,15, and 20 mm) on the biomechanics of zygomatic implants.…”