Team Approach Improves Esthetic and Functional Outcomes in Older Patients with Complex Facial, Jaw and Dental Deformities

ROSEMONT, Ill., Nov. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The need for dental implant treatment in older patients remains high, considering the prevalence of partial and complete loss of one's teeth, according to an article in the November 2013 issue of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, entitled Virtual Surgical Planning for Treatment of Severe Mandibular Retrognathia With Collapsed Occlusion Using Contemporary Surgical and Prosthodontic Protocols.  It is an even greater challenge if patients have complex facial deformities and poorly maintained teeth.

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Mayo Clinic authors Matilda Dhima, DMD, MS, Thomas J. Salinas, DDS, and Kevin L. Rieck, DDS, MD, detail the challenges encountered in successfully managing an older adult with complex facial, jaw and dental deformities, complicated by collapsed dentition and lost or compromised teeth over the patient's lifetime. They use the rehabilitation of a 69-year old female with a severely under-developed lower jaw with collapsed occlusion and an inability to keep her lips together at rest.  The authors conducted treatment planning and sequencing using contemporary surgical and prosthodontic reconstruction protocols, with the goal of achieving optimal skeletal dentoalveolar relations, function and esthetics.

Their procedures included using state-of-the-art virtual treatment and surgical planning software, which, combined with prosthodontic presurgical model surgery, allowed for optimal interaction between the surgeon and the prosthodontist.  This unique approach resulted in skeletal, soft tissue, and dental harmonies without biological or mechanical complications. Definitive dental rehabilitation was effected with a maxillary complete denture and a mandibular metal ceramic fixed implant-retained prosthesis.

Their findings indicate that skeletal and dentoalveolar reconstruction using a multidisciplinary approach and advanced technological optimizes both functional and esthetic outcomes in this typically difficult to manage clinical situation.

Read the complete study findings at  J Oral Maxillofac Surg; 71:1923-1932, 2013

The Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is published monthly by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons to present to the dental and medical communities comprehensive coverage of new techniques, important developments and innovative ideas in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Practice-applicable articles help develop the methods used to handle dentoalveolar surgery, facial injuries and deformities, TMJ disorders, oral cancer, jaw reconstruction, anesthesia and analgesia. The journal also includes specifics on new instruments and diagnostic equipment and modern therapeutic drugs and devices.

SOURCE American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons