Use of a surgical positioner for bone-anchored facial prostheses

The use of osseointegrated implants to retain facial prostheses in craniofacial rehabilitation is a reliable procedure. Proper location of the implants is critical for fabrication of a prosthesis with ideal shape and contour. The use of a positioner at time of surgery can guide placement of the implants to achieve an optimum result. The positioner is also useful as a guide to the shape of the retentive element and as a quick method for obtaining a wax pattern for the prosthesis. This article describes-the fabrication and applications of a positioner.