Dental implants in maxillofacial prosthodontics: An asset in head and neck cancer and Sjögren's syndrome patients

Maxillofacial prosthodontics is the discipline that concerns the prosthetic treatment of patients with defects of the head and neck. In these patients, dental implants can be used to support prostheses. This can be mandibular or maxillary overdentures, but also for example prostheses to replace a nose, eye or ear.
In this thesis, the applicability of dental implants in patients with a tumor in the head and neck area and patients with Sjögren’s syndrome is studied. Sjögren’s syndrome is an auto-immune disease. Patients suffering from this syndrome have, amongst others, a dry mouth and dry eyes.
In patients with a tumor in the mouth preferably implants are placed immediately after resection of the tumor, i.e., in the same operation. This way a large percentage of the patients can have a prosthesis relatively early after treatment of the tumor.
Also for rehabilitation of the defect resulting from removal of the nose for a tumor is placement of implants a favorable option. When two implants are placed in the nasal floor to support nose prostheses, the patients are highly satisfied with their prostheses.
Little is known of the use of implant in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome. We studies 50 patients with Sjögren’s syndrome and dental implants. Implant survival and treatment outcome were comparable to the results in healthy patients.
In conclusion, implants are an asset in the prosthetic treatment of patients with a tumor in the head and neck area and in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome.