A Novel Method to Reconstruct the Upper and Lower Jaws Using 3D-Custom-Made Titanium Implants

Abstract

Background: This paper presents a novel method of upper and lower jaw reconstruction using 3D-custom-made titanium implants with abutment-like projections. The implants were designed to rehabilitate the oral and facial shape, esthetic, function, and occlusion. Patient and Method: A 20-year-old boy was diagnosed as having Gorlin syndrome. The patient suffered from having large bony defects, after ablative multiple keratocysts resection, of the maxilla and mandible. The resulting defects were reconstructed with 3D-custom-made titanium implants. The implants with abutment-like projections were simulated, printed, and fabricated with a selective milling method based on computed tomography scan data. Result: There were no postoperative infections or foreign body reactions during the 1-year follow-up period. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the use of 3D-custom-made titanium implants with abutment-like projections, attempting to rehabilitate the occlusion and overcome the limitations of custom-made implants in treating large bony defects of the maxilla and mandible.