Polyetheretherketone patient‑specifc implants (PPSI) for the reconstruction of two diferent mandibular contour deformities

Abstract

Background This study aims to prospect the soft and hard tissue changes after augmentation of two diferent local mandibular contour defects using polyetheretherketone (PEEK) patient-specifc onlay implants. Methods Six patients with disfguring local mandibular deformities were included in this study (fve males and one female) and received seven PEEK patient-specifc implants (PSI), virtually designed and surgically settled to augment seven man- dibular defects, three defcient chins, and four mandibular angels. The analysis of the soft and hard tissue changes utilized the superimposition of the preoperative and the 6-month postoperative sagittal and coronal CT views, after standardizing the radiographic interpretation. Results The soft tissue gain for the chin was 6.8 mm±0.98 with a 45.8% increase versus 4.42 mm±0.41 with a 22.9% increase for the angle. The diference in the soft tissue gain between the two groups was statistically signifcant (P=0.0001). Comparing the soft tissue gain to the planned implant thickness, the percentage of the soft tissue gain for the chin recorded 109.2% versus 65.57% for the angle. The diference between the two groups was also statistically signifcant (P<0.0001). Conclusion PEEK patient-specifc onlay implants represented an efcient and straightforward modality to augment local mandibular contour deformities with favorable esthetic outcomes; the total soft tissue profle gain of the chin region mark- edly exceeded that of the mandibular angle.