Multicenter experience with maxillary prostheses supported by Brånemark implants: a clinical report

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Biomaterials Science
• Reconstructive Dentistry

Background:

• Maxillectomy, a surgical procedure to remove part or all of the upper jaw, often necessitates prosthetic rehabilitation.
• Brånemark implants have been utilized to support prostheses in patients who have undergone maxillectomy.
• Assessing the long-term survival of these implants is crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the survival rate of Brånemark implants used in prostheses for Japanese patients following maxillectomy.
• To investigate potential factors, including adjuvant therapies and prosthesis support, influencing implant survival.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study design was employed.
• Data were collected via questionnaires from 8 institutions, focusing on 19 Japanese patients who received Brånemark implants post-maxillectomy.
• Implant survival rates were calculated and analyzed in relation to radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and prosthesis support systems.

Main Results:

• A total of 81 Brånemark implants were placed, with 16 losses, resulting in an overall implant survival rate of 80.2%.
• The mean patient age at implant placement was 64.2 years, with a mean follow-up of 27.6 months.
• No statistically significant differences in implant survival rates were found concerning radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or the type of prosthesis support.

Conclusions:

• Brånemark implants demonstrate a considerable survival rate in supporting prostheses for patients after maxillectomy.
• Adjuvant therapies commonly used in head and neck cancer treatment did not appear to negatively impact implant survival in this cohort.
• Further research with larger sample sizes may be beneficial to confirm these findings.