Plastic Surgery 2009 - Dentures Help Facial Prosthetics Become Part of Body

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Titanium dental implants, traditionally used to hold dentures in place, are successfully being used by plastic surgeons to better treat patients in need of facial prosthetics as a result of cancer, burns, or trauma, new research suggests. Titanium is a material that successfully fuses into bone, which creates a structural and functional connection between the bone and dental implant allowing it to become part of the body. The prosthesis contains a magnet that when attached to the dental implant, allows it to better stay in its intended position and last longer. One-hundred-three patients successfully had reconstruction for ear, eye, or nose defects with an average of three dental implants used per defect. Initially, some implants used in previously radiated areas were lost and needed to be replaced. Consequently, caution is required when implants are used in radiated areas. Members of the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons (ASMS) will present the study at the ASPS Plastic Surgery 2009 conference, Oct. 23-27, in Seattle.

By the Numbers: Nearly 5 million reconstructive plastic surgery procedures were performed in 2008, up 7 percent from 2007, reports the ASPS.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• plastic surgery
• denture
• implant
• prosthetic
• surgery
• dental