Functional Rehabilitation in Non-Reconstructed Hemimandibulectomy Patients

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Restorative Dentistry
• Reconstructive Surgery

Background:

• Functional rehabilitation after hemimandibulectomy presents significant challenges.
• Reconstruction methods do not always guarantee optimal occlusal restoration.
• Mandibular continuity reestablishment is complex, impacting functional outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of achieving acceptable occlusal restoration in hemimandibulectomy patients without mandibular continuity.
• To identify factors influencing occlusal deviation in non-reconstructed mandibles.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective data collection from 10 patients with varying degrees of mandible resection.
• Analysis of factors influencing occlusal deviation: presence of teeth, defect extension, and coronoid process.
• Dental rehabilitation using implant-supported or removable partial dentures.

Main Results:

• Occlusal deviation is influenced by proprioceptive stimuli from teeth, defect size, and coronoid process presence.
• Patients were rehabilitated with implant-supported or removable partial dentures based on dental element presence.
• Acceptable occlusion and function can be achieved even without restoring mandibular continuity.

Conclusions:

• While bone grafting for mandibular continuity is the gold standard, functional outcomes are possible without it.
• Managing patient and physician expectations is crucial for successful rehabilitation.
• Compromise and careful planning are essential for optimal solutions in challenging cases.