Is Implant Therapy Effective for Functional Recovery of Patients with Mandibular Defects?

Abstract

Background: The aim of this review was to elucidate the effectiveness of prostheses with implant therapy for patients with mandibular defects.
Methods: A systematic literature survey was conducted by the Japan Medical Library Association based on keywords for PubMed and Ichushi-web presented by the Clinical Practice Guideline Committee of Japanese Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics. After the secondary screening, related articles were extracted and their structured abstracts were described for discussion.
Results: Although randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses were not found, 28 papers were extracted after screening. Overall, objective and subjective measures （e.g. occlusal force, masticatory efficiency and food acceptability questionnaires） were significantly increased with implant-supported mandibular prostheses. However, speech and swallowing function were not improved in cases with tongue or oral floor resection. Success and survival rates of implant therapy were ninety percent or more on mandibular reconstruction with autogenous bone grafts.
Conclusions: These results suggest that implant-supported mandibular prostheses that can secure the stability of the upper fixed/removable structure are more effective for recovering masticatory function compared with conventional mandibular prostheses.