Holmes Jon D, Aponte-Wesson Ruth
Private practice, Oral and Facial Surgery of Alabama, 1500, 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35205, USA.
Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am. 2010 Aug;22(3):407-18, vii. doi: 10.1016/j.coms.2010.04.002.
The transfer of composite tissue flaps by microvascular techniques has become the standard for reconstructing complex defects of the oral and maxillofacial regions. Despite advances in these techniques, sites reconstructed by free tissue transfer (free flaps) are often compromised by scarring, bulky tissue, and altered architecture. Dental rehabilitation is often impossible without endosseous implants to aid in stabilization and retention of prostheses. The most commonly used free flaps, however, have significant shortcomings with regard to implant placement, prosthetics, and maintenance. This article describes some site development and prosthetic techniques that can be applied to improve outcomes when dental implants are used in conjunction with free flap reconstruction.
