Dental Rehabilitation After Bone Mandibular Reconstruction for Head and Neck Cancer: A GETTEC Multicenter Study.

Abstract

The microvascular bone free flap (MBFF) is the preferred reconstruction after mandibular resection as it facilitates secondary dental rehabilitation. In this multicenter study, patients were included if treated between January 2017 and January 2022 for head and neck cancer with MBFF reconstruction. Of the 487 identified patients, 104 patients were included. Median follow-up was 49 months. 61 patients (59%) had no dental rehabilitation. Of the 43 rehabilitated patients, 81% had a conventional prosthesis and 19% an implant-supported prosthesis. Neither the number of osteotomies, nor the complexity of the reconstruction, nor the radiotherapy, were statistically associated with dental rehabilitation. Only the absence of a dental specialist in the center (p = 0.04) and a number of one or fewer native mandibular teeth (p = 0.05) were significantly associated with no dental rehabilitation in multivariate analysis. The rate of dental rehabilitation is still insufficient. The presence of a dental specialist is essential.