Surgical Treatment, Oral Rehabilitation, and Orthognathic Surgery After Failure of Pharmacologic Treatment of Central Giant Cell Lesion: A Case Report.

Although pharmacologic treatments for central giant cell lesions have gained much emphasis, these treatment modalities do not always have successful outcomes, and surgical treatment may be necessary. The purpose of the present study was to report a case of aggressive central giant cell lesion initially treated by nonsurgical methods without satisfactory results, necessitating segmental mandibular resection for definitive treatment and oral rehabilitation. A 20-year-old woman was diagnosed with an aggressive central giant cell lesion in the mandible. The patient was first treated with intralesional corticosteroid injections. Subsequently, the lesion increased in size. Therefore, a second pharmacologic treatment was proposed with salmon calcitonin nasal spray, but no signs of a treatment response were noted. Because of the lack of response, surgical excision was performed, and a mandibular reconstruction plate was installed. At 12 months after surgical resection, the patient underwent mandibular reconstruction with bone grafts. After 6 months, 7 dental implants were installed, and fixed prostheses were made. After installation of the prostheses, the patient experienced persistent mandibular laterognathism, and a mandibular orthognathic surgery was performed to correct the laterognathia. The follow-up examination 4 years after orthognathic surgery showed no signs of recurrence and good facial symmetry.

Surgical and prosthetic management of a complex edentulous patient for fabrication of complete dentures.

Fabrication of well-fitting complete dentures becomes a challenge in the presence of epulis fissuratum in the maxilla or severely resorbed alveolar tissue in the mandible. This clinical report describes the surgical and prosthetic treatment of a patient who presented with both problems. The neutral zone technique was used to improve the stability of the mandibular complete denture. Both dentures were fabricated prior to surgical excision of the epulis fissuratum and inserted immediately following the surgery.

Reconstruction and rehabilitation of severe mandibular atrophy using distraction osteogenesis technique: a case report.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to describe a rehabilitation technique for patients with severe anterior atrophy using a combination of distraction osteogenesis and implants to support fixed or removable prostheses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The surgical technique involves the use of an extraosseous distraction device followed by more than 14 mm of distraction of the mandibular symphysis. RESULTS: The patient was successfully treated by the application of 4 implants in the region of the mandibular symphysis, stabilized by an Ackerman bar, and a removable prosthesis. CONCLUSION: Osseous distraction techniques, when possible, are preferable to block bone grafting techniques because they present considerable advantages for patients and surgeons. The combination of distraction and implant placement can rehabilitate patients with severe defects.

Prosthodontic rehabilitation of dental implants with exposed threads: a clinical report.

An unconventional technique was used to address the challenge of exposed dental implant threads. Titanium dental implants were prepared with rotary instruments to eliminate the exposed threads and to receive a fixed cementable prosthesis. The technique required fabrication of a gold casting of 2 copings connected by a round bar to fit the prepared implants and an implant-retained overdenture. This technique may be applied to other situations when multiple implants present with thread exposure and bone resorption. These include single crowns, partial fixed dental prostheses, and attachments for overdentures.

The use of root form implants in overdenture treatment for the atrophic mandible: a clinical report.

Four short root form implants were inserted in an atrophic mandible and the case restored with a lower connecting bar and an overdenture, opposing a complete maxillary denture. Root form implants were selected, as opposed to a subperiosteal implant in this case. The patient had a favorable medical history, appeared healthy, did not smoke, drink, or do illicit drugs, and had good bone quality.

Avoiding osseous grafting in the atrophic posterior mandible for implant-supported fixed partial dentures: a report of 2 cases.

Bone atrophy occurs after tooth extraction in the posterior mandible, placing the mandibular canal and its neural, arterial, and venous contents closer to the osseous facial aspect and the coronal crest. This proximity places the structure in danger of damage when dental implants are surgically placed to support fixed or removable prostheses. Several options are available to treat these areas for implant-supported fixed and removable complete or partial dentures. Osseous grafting and ridge expansion are surgical options that enable acceptance of standard sized dental implants but have serious morbidities. Additionally, vertical osseous augmentation is not predictable at this time. Narrow diameter dental implants can be placed to avoid the mandibular canal, but some bone volume situations preclude this. Very wide and very short (6.5 × 5 mm) dental implants may be placed at an angle in atrophic sites to successfully support fixed partial dentures. An anterior guidance occlusal scheme may be used in maxillary dentate patients or group function in maxillary complete denture patients. A 100 micron occlusal relief in fixed partial dentures in dentate patients may be required to account for natural tooth intrusion and to prevent occlusal overload of the implant-supported partial denture.

Rehabilitation of a maxillary defect secondary to recurrent giant cell granuloma.

This is a presentation of the treatment history of a young woman with a benign lesion resulting in a large maxillary defect. This patient's complex treatment resulted in a full spectrum of rehabilitation modalities. Her story shows alternative treatment options with the ultimate goal of restoring form, function, and quality of life to a patient with an extensive maxillary defect.

Accurate reconstruction of discontinuous mandible using a reverse engineering/computer-aided design/rapid prototyping technique: a preliminary clinical study.

PURPOSE: To improve the reconstructive surgical outcome of a discontinuous mandibular defect, we used reverse engineering (RE), computer-aided design (CAD), and rapid prototyping (RP) technique to fabricate customized mandibular trays to precisely restore the mandibular defects. Autogenous bone grafting was also used to restore the bony continuity for occlusion rehabilitation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Six patients who had undergone block resection of the mandible underwent reconstruction using a custom titanium tray combining autogenous iliac grafts. The custom titanium tray was made using a RE/CAD/RP technique. A virtual 3-dimensional model was obtained by spiral computed tomography scanning. The opposite side of the mandible was mirrored to cover the defect area to restore excellent facial symmetry. A bone grafting tray was designed from the mirrored image and manufactured using RP processing and casting. The mandibular defects were restored using the trays in combination of autologous iliac grafting. An implant denture was made for 1 of the 6 patients at 24 weeks postoperatively for occlusion rehabilitation. RESULTS: The trays fabricated using this technique fit well in all 6 patients. The reconstructive procedures were easy and time saving. Satisfactory facial symmetry was restored. No severe complications occurred in the 5 patients without occlusion rehabilitation during a mean 50-month follow-up period. The reconstruction in the patient with occlusion lasted for only 1 year and failed eventually because of bone resorption and infection. CONCLUSIONS: Mandibular reconstruction was facilitated using the RE/CAD/RP technique. Satisfactory esthetic results were achieved. However, the rigidity of the cast tray could cause severe stress shielding to the grafts, which could lead to disuse atrophy. Therefore, some modification is needed for functional reconstruction.

The tent pole splint: a bone-supported stereolithographic surgical splint for the soft tissue matrix expansion graft procedure.

This report details the use of computer-aided planning and intraoperative stereolithographic direct-bone-contact surgical splints for the accurate extraoral placement of dental implants in the soft tissue matrix expansion (tent pole) graft of the severely resorbed mandible.

Prosthodontic treatment of a patient with bisphosphonate-induced osteonecrosis of the jaw using a removable dental prosthesis with a heat-polymerized resilient liner: a clinical report.

Bisphosphonate-induced osteonecrosis of the jaws (BONJ) is reported frequently in patients receiving oral or intravenous bisphosphonates. To minimize potential complications, dental treatment must be performed with care. There are invasive and noninvasive treatment options for patients with active BONJ or a history of this complication. This clinical report describes the prosthodontic treatment of a patient who developed BONJ after receiving intravenous bisphosphonates (pamidronate). Because of the recurrent incidence of BONJ, noninvasive prosthetic therapy with telescopic overdentures and a heat-polymerized resilient liner was provided. After 2 years, there were no biological or technical complications.

[Does the combination syndrome exist? A case report]. / Existiert das Kombinationssyndrom? Ein Fallbericht.

This case report documents the prosthetic rehabilitation of a patient showing the typical features of combination syndrome. This case documentation gives a general overview of the suspected development and the prevalence of this "syndrome". A treatment option should be shown by the example of a patient from the starting situation until the prosthetic therapy by means of a complete maxillary denture and an implant-supported mandibular overdenture rigidly retained with a milled bar.

Pediatric mandibular reconstruction after benign tumor ablation using a vascularized fibular flap.

This study evaluated the aesthetic and functional outcomes of vascularized fibular flaps used for pediatric mandibular reconstruction. Six pediatric patients ranging in age from 12 to 15 years underwent mandibular reconstruction using a vascularized fibula flap with a skin paddle, after benign tumor ablation. All of the flap transfers were successful, and there were no complications. Panorex radiographs showed good bone union in all patients. The flap conferred adequate support for dental rehabilitation. The mean follow-up was 24.2 months. The aesthetic and functional outcomes were normal. No patient had recurrence. A vascularized fibular flap is a very reliable method for reconstructing the pediatric mandible after benign tumor ablation.

Rehabilitation after mandibular reconstruction with fibula free-flap: clinical outcome and quality of life assessment.

Tumors (benign or malignant), osteoradionecrosis or osteomyelitis sometimes lead to large segmental resections of the mandible. Osteo(cutaneous) fibula free-flaps (OFFF) are used to reconstruct these defects. New anatomical relationships as well as possible irradiation of local tissues make dental rehabilitation complicated. The aim of this study was to determine the rate of dental rehabilitation with an implant-retained lower denture or fixed appliances, after segmental resection and reconstruction of the mandible with an OFFF. Data were obtained from 70 patients, who underwent segmental mandibular resection followed by reconstruction with an OFFF, from 1995 to 2005. Dental rehabilitation was defined as a patient, who after segmental mandibular resection and reconstruction with an OFFF, received an implant-retained lower denture or fixed appliances. Clinical and functional assessments, as well as quality of life and denture satisfaction were evaluated. Twenty-four of 70 patients received dental implants; 18 received complete dental rehabilitation. Only a small percentage of patients with segmental mandibular reconstructions with an OFFF received complete dental rehabilitation, mainly because of poor survival after treatment for malignant tumors of the oral cavity. The beneficial effects of dental rehabilitation with an implant-retained denture or fixed appliances, mainly favored cosmetic aspects, rather than oral function.

Fixed partial dentures and crowns supported by very small diameter dental implants in compromised sites.

Very small diameter (1.8-3.3 mm) dental implants may be successfully used to support fixed partial dentures in edentulous sites of compromised bone width or length. Very small implants can be successfully used in highly selected sites where there is adequate bone density and bone volume for immediate implant stability. Adequate or augmentable attached gingiva may be a requirement. A small diameter implant presents less of an obstacle for angiogenesis and there is less percutaneous exposure and bone displacement as compared with standard sized implants. In posterior sites, rounded and narrow prosthetic teeth present small occlusal tables to minimize axial and off-axial directed forces. Multiple splinted implants may be necessary to minimize metal fatigue from cyclic loading. Anterior restorations supported by mini implants may need occlusal relief to minimize the effects of cyclic loading.

Severely resorbed mandible treated by soft tissue matrix expansion (tent pole) grafts: case report.

The functional rehabilitation for severely resorbed mandibles has been a challenge for dentists and oral surgeons. We present a 2-year follow-up case of severely resorbed mandibles successfully treated by soft tissue matrix expansion and cranial bone graft with nonremovable screw-retained acrylic resin prosthesis supported by 4 dental implants.

The outcome of coronoidectomy in bilateral coronoid process hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVE: Coronoid process hyperplasia (CPH) of the mandible is a rare condition that can be defined as an abnormal bony elongation of histologically normal bone with the symptoms of progressive, painless difficulty in opening the mouth. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of five patients with CPH treated by coronoidectomy, relative to post surgery jaw function. METHODS: Five patients with CPH were included in this study. The diagnosis of CPH was confirmed by radiographic and clinical examination of the mandible. All five patients underwent bilateral intraoral coronoidectomy under general anesthesia. The mean maximum interincisal mouth opening for the patients was determined by measurements taken pre-surgery, intraoperative, and at longest follow-up. All five patients underwent postsurgical physical therapy directed towards jaw function. RESULTS: All the patients with limited mouth openings presented with a preoperative maximum interincisal mouth opening of 12.4 mm (range 9-20.3 mm), which was increased to 37 mm (range 22-52 mm) in the operating room after bilateral intraoral coronoidectomy and 42 mm (range 32-52 mm) during the late follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with limited jaw function related to bilateral CPH can benefit by undergoing bilateral coronoidectomies and physiotherapy.

Rehabilitation of a Severely Resorbed Posterior Mandible with 4-mm Extra-Short Implants and Guided Bone Regeneration: Case Report with 3-year Follow-up.

Alveolar bone resorption has been a major challenge for implant placement in regions limited by anatomical structures. New alternatives have been introduced with the inclusion of extra-short implants in dentistry. The association of guided bone regeneration (GBR) with the use of extra-short implants might be a viable alternative for regions with limited bone height. This case report aimed to present the rehabilitation of a patient with severe mandibular bone resorption in the posterior region. The association of GBR with the use of extra-short implants was a viable alternative after a 3-year follow-up.

A prosthetic management technique for osteopetrosis affecting the maxilla.

Bony anatomical anomalies can complicate the construction and successful wearing of removable prostheses. Osteopetrosis is a group of diseases that affect the growth and continuous remodelling of bone which in turn can result in gross irregular alveolar bone morphology. This paper describes the management of a patient with this problem and emphasises the challenges in constructing a successful complete maxillary removable prosthesis. The utilisation of a flexible base plate material as an alternative to traditional materials will be highlighted. Irregular bony morphology is a recognised potential obstacle to the successful construction of removable prostheses. In most cases the problem can be overcome but in extreme and less common circumstances, management of these features can be more problematic. This paper describes a technique used to manage extreme alveolar irregularity which may perhaps be applied to those problems more commonly encountered in every day clinical practice but are less extreme then those described in this paper.

Rehabilitation of failing dentition with immediate denture prostheses: technique for a predictable esthetic and functional outcome.

The goal of this article is to describe the clinical and laboratory procedures used in the fabrication of immediate complete and removable partial denture prostheses. In this type of treatment, achieving optimal esthetic and functional outcomes is complicated because of the absence of the try-in stage. To overcome this limitation, a technique that predictably transfers the information obtained during esthetic dentofacial analysis from the patient to the laboratory in the form of an incisal-occlusal plane guide is described. Stability, support, and retention of the immediate partial denture prosthesis can be improved with the incorporation of cast clasp assemblies, and its fabrication technique is presented in this article.

Bone regeneration after removal of a mandibular cyst and following prosthetic rehabilitation with implants. Case report.

This study shows the spontaneous bone regeneration after a Partch II surgical operation without using filling materials. The following functional and esthetic rehabilitation was made with overdenture on implants even in the recovery zone. A male patient, 59 years old, with a cystic lesion of 3.5 mm diameter in the mandibular bone was submitted to surgical enucleation of this neoformation. Postoperative radiological examinations, orthopantomography and TC DentaScan were performed to value the bone regeneration. Four implants of 10 mm diameter and 4.1 mm length were subsequently fixed in the mandibular bone and also in the regeneration area. Then, the rehabilitation of the patient with an overdenture on implants was possible. Radiographic controls after cystic enucleation showed a good recovery of the region occupied by the neoformation. The implants fixed proved to be solid and it was possible to carry out an overdenture on them. The cystectomy alone, performed with conservative technique, without subsequent filling of the remaining cavity with biointegrative materials, permitted bone regeneration also in a large remaining cavity. This regeneration was sufficient to guarantee the success of the subsequent overdenture on implants, and very good functional and esthetic results in a patient totally edentulous in the mandibular bone.