The Relevance of the Use of Radiographic Planning in Order to Avoid Complications in Mandibular Implantology: A Retrospective Study

Treatment Complications of Head and Neck Cancers and Rehabilitation Measures: A Narrative Review

Head and neck cancers (HNCs) are malignant tumors mainly from squamous cells in the head and neck tissues. Treatment involves a multidisciplinary approach with surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, the long-term prognosis for patients with advanced-stage tumors is guarded, with a median survival time of approximately 24 months. HNC patients have very high rates of depression and anxiety and the highest suicide rate among all cancers due to the intense and challenging nature of the treatment, underscoring the importance of our collective efforts. Rehabilitation success depends on various factors, including tumor, patient, and treatment-related factors. Patients may require post-treatment oral rehabilitation measures, including implants, obturators, and flexible dentures. These measures are crucial, but they often need to be more utilized. Patients may face challenges in maintaining oral hygiene and managing mucositis. Additionally, it is essential to address other intricacies such as trismus, xerostomia, gustatory dysfunctions, neuropathy, speech impairments, and psychological disturbances. Unfortunately, there is little literature on post-treatment rehabilitative measures. Despite its crucial role in improving patients' quality of life, rehabilitation often receives inadequate attention compared to treatment. Our narrative review, which covers various factors that affect rehabilitation, including oral rehabilitation measures and post-treatment complications, is anticipated to deliver practical insights to professionals and inspire positive changes in their regular practice.

Dynamic Navigation System for Immediate Implant Placement in the Maxillary Aesthetic Region

(1) Background: The achievement of an optimal implant position is still a critical consideration in implantology, especially in the aesthetic area. Dynamic navigation is a computer-aided procedure that allows the surgeon to follow on a screen the three-dimensional position of instruments in real time during implant site preparation. The aim of this proof-of-concept study was to assess the clinical and radiographical performance and accuracy of the surgical workflow during maxillary immediate implant placement assisted by DTX studio Implant software planning and X-Guide Navigation. (2) Methods: Twelve consecutive patients requiring at least one implant in the maxillary aesthetic region were treated. Clinical outcome measures were biological complications and implant or prosthetic success rate. The accuracy was measured by calculating the deviation between the real implant position obtained from the postoperative cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan and the planned implant position. (3) Results: The average deviation at the implant shoulder was 0.77 ± 0.25 mm and at the apical point was 1.2 ± 0.61 mm. The depth error was 0.5 ± 0.21 mm. The axis deviation was 2.5 ± 0.41 degrees. No biological complications or implant and prosthetic failures occurred after mean 6-month follow-up. (4) Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, it seems that the dynamic navigation system for implant placement in the maxillary aesthetic region is accurate for prosthetically driven implant placement.

Oral rehabilitation of the cancer patient: A formidable challenge

Rehabilitation of oral functions following surgery on the jaws is a goal that is often difficult to achieve. Removable dentures supported by remaining teeth or gum are often unstable and seldom satisfactory. On the other hand, endosseous (dental) implants offer a mechanism to provide stability to the dentures. This review, discusses factors related to the tumor, patient, treatment, and physicians which impact upon the feasibility and success of dental implants in patients with oral cancer.