PROSTHODONTIC REHABILITATION OF PATIENTS WITH MANDIBULAR RESECTION: AN UPDATED REVIEW AND AN ILLUSTRATIVE CASE

Objective To review 55 literature cases of patients with a history of mandibulectomy who were rehabilitated with a maxillofacial prosthesis and to discuss details such as age, sex, histopathology, type of mandibular resection, aesthetic and functional disorders, surgical reconstruction, treatment, and follow-up period. An illustrative case of prosthetic rehabilitation after hemi-mandibulectomy is also presented. Study Design The study was carried out in 2 steps. In the first part, an electronic search of prosthetic rehabilitation after hemi- and complete mandibulectomy was undertaken in 4 databases. In the second part, we presented a case of a patient diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and rehabilitated with fixed and removable prostheses. Results The sample consisted of 37 (67%) males and 18 (33%) females, with a mean age of 44.3 years. The predominant histopathology was OSCC (52.7%). All patients who had mandibulectomy were treated with a maxillary or mandibular prosthesis. Different types of prosthetic rehabilitation were detected, with follow-up periods between 3 weeks and 15 years. The illustrative case was submitted to hemi-mandibulectomy and received provisional and restorative prostheses, with 2 years of follow-up care. Conclusions Prosthetic rehabilitation was fundamental in order to stabilize occlusion, to correct deviation from the midline, and to improve masticatory efficiency in addition to aesthetic appearance. Support: FAPEMIG.