[Prosthetic rehabilitation in the head and neck region]

Implant-retained craniofacial prostheses (or epitheses) made of silicone are state of the art for prosthetic rehabilitation of facial defects. With the modern extraoral implant systems, prostheses may be securely anchored to the bone regardless of size and location of the defect. Prerequisite for successful implantation is the classical atraumatic surgical technique with avoidance of any thermal trauma to the bone. The treatment intention may be a temporary measure, a rescue procedure after failed (re)construction, or a definitive treatment option. This article gives an overview of the strategies in various facial regions stratified according to the age of the patient and the etiology of the defect. Moreover, prosthetic rehabilitation offers additional options for septal perforations, distorted and leaky tracheostomies, and treatment-resistant tracheoesophageal fistula.