Dental rehabilitation in 101 primarily reconstructed jaws after segmental resections – Possibilities and problems. An 18-year study

Abstract

To evaluate the possibility of providing every patient with dental rehabilitation after segmental resections and primary jaw reconstructions. Ninety-five consecutive patients, followed for more than 1 year, were retrospectively evaluated without any exclusions, using the patients' records. 1) Forty percent received dental substitutes after a mean of 32 months for implant bridges and 20 months for removable dentures. Thirty-one percent were implant bridges and 9% removable dentures. 2) Of patients with mandibles, reconstructed with bone, 48% were dentally rehabilitated. 3) Seventeen percent decided against dental rehabilitation, either because they could manage with their remaining teeth or--in edentulous cases--because they could not cope with the additional treatment thought-to-be necessary for dental rehabilitation. 4) Jaws, reconstructed without bone, did not receive any dental rehabilitation. 5) The overall survival rate of the dental reconstructions was 92% with a mean observation time of 36 months (0-129). For implant-supported bridges, the survival ratio was 90% with a mean observation time of 39 months (0-129). 6) The overall survival rate of dental implants was 90% with a mean observation time of 53 months (12-149). When all patients were accounted for, less than 50% had their dentitions restored. This took more than 2 years to accomplish. Edentulous jaws, reconstructed without bone, never became rehabilitated. Several patients could not cope with the additional treatment necessary to restore their dentitions. The overall survival rate of dental reconstructions and implants was at least 90%.