Abstract
Purpose: We submit an alternative treatment for unreleasable trismus to increase the interincisal distance and allow adequate oral nutrition and masticatory function. Patient and Methods: The patient presented with severe trismus after receiving postoperation radiotherapy for oral carcinoma. We undertook radical release of the left-sided trismus, and covered the resultant soft tissue defect with an anterolateral thigh free flap, but the patient was only able to open his mouth an interincisal distance of 8 mm. The right mandible was accessed and the functionless residual teeth were extracted. Marginal mandibulectomy of the native mandible was performed. Results: Dental implants (POI, Kyocera, Japan) were inserted into the leveled right mandible. A bridge dental prosthesis was inserted and resulted in a final functional interincisal distance of 19 mm. Conclusion: We offer that leveling the native mandible to match the reconstructed side is a simple procedure that can be reasonably used as an alternative measure in a selected group of patients.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1628-1630 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery |
Volume | 68 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 07 2010 |
Externally published | Yes |