Jaw in a Day: Immediate Dental Rehabilitation during Fibula Reconstruction of the Mandible
Adrian A. Ong, Fayette C. Williams, Ellen Tokarz, Tom Shokri, Daniel A. Hammer, Yadranko Ducic
Abstract
Reconstructing mandibular defects presents challenges to dental rehabilitation related to altered bone and soft tissue anatomy. Dental implants are the most reliable method to restore the lost dentition. Immediate dental implants have been placed for many years but with unacceptably low rates of dental/prosthetic success. Current virtual technology allows placement of both fibulas and guided implants in restoratively driven positions that also allow immediate dental rehabilitation. Inexpensive three-dimensional printing platforms can create provisional dental prostheses placed at the time of surgery. This article reviews our digital and surgical workflow to create an immediate dental prosthesis to predictably restore the dentition during major jaw reconstruction with fibula free flaps.