Rehabilitation of Maxillectomy Patients Using Zygoma Implants

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Dental Implantology
• Prosthodontics

Background:

• Extensive maxillary defects following maxillectomy often result in loss of retentive anatomy, complicating obturator/prosthesis rehabilitation.
• Conventional obturator retention can be compromised, impacting oral function and patient quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of rehabilitating acquired maxillary defects using zygomatic implants and endosseous dental implants for prosthesis retention.
• To assess the stability and functional outcomes of implant-retained obturators in patients with maxillectomy.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of eight patients with acquired maxillary defects underwent rehabilitation with zygomatic and endosseous dental implants supporting an obturator/prosthesis.
• Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) and Obturator Functioning Scale (OFS) were assessed preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively.
• Immediate loading of the clip-on denture was performed within 7 days of surgery.

Main Results:

• Patients (mean age 44.875 years) showed significant improvements in OHIP-14 scores across all domains, indicating reduced functional limitation and physical pain.
• Obturator functioning scores significantly improved from a mean of 4.5 to 30.63 post-treatment.
• High survival rates for zygomatic implants were observed, although institutional variability exists.

Conclusions:

• Zygomatic and endosseous dental implants provide a stable and retentive solution for obturator rehabilitation in patients with extensive maxillary defects.
• This implant-retained approach significantly enhances oral health-related quality of life and functional outcomes.
• Further research is warranted to address the learning curve and standardize outcomes for zygomatic implant techniques.