Lateral cephalometric radiograph for the planning of maxillary implant reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE

To present a simple and objective method for the planning of maxillary implant reconstruction with autogenous bone graft in maxilla atrophy.

METHODS

Lateral cephalometric radiographs were performed with a metallic marker placed inside an acrylic-coated model, followed by cephalometric studies, to predict the most adequate grafting method for maxillary reconstruction in 13 edentulous patients (2 males and 11 females) whose age ranged from 27 to 47 years (mean age 37.9 years).

RESULTS

It was possible to predict the type of maxillary reconstruction in all patients. Onlay graft was used in 12 patients. One patient was submitted to LeFort I reconstruction with interpositional graft. After 8 months, the patients received a total of 95 standard implants. The success rate was 94.7% with loss of five implants. Rehabilitation was performed with protocol-type prostheses. All patients have been followed for more than 18 months since osseointegration.

CONCLUSIONS

This simple and objective method provided a useful contribution to maxillary reconstruction, and to the functional and aesthetic rehabilitation of the patients.