Zygomatic Implant-Supported Prosthesis: When the Prosthetic Rehabilitation Affects the Function: A Case Report (Case Report)
1. Introduction
Tooth loss causes physical, emotional [1] and behavioral disorders [2] . It also affects the functional aspects related to the pattern and efficiency of mastication and phonetics.
Oral rehabilitation of edentulous patients requires careful considerations of their age, esthetics, ease of cleaning, psychological status, degree of bone resorption, anatomic limitations, interocclusal space and cost-effectiveness [2] . The oral rehabilitation should meet all or the vast majority of patient expectations, including esthetic. However, physical and mechanical requirements must not be compromised to avoid change in the resistance, retention, and function of the prosthesis.
Zygomatic implants have been indicated for severely atrophic maxilla and have shown promising outcomes [1] [3] [4] [5] allowing anchorage and stability in the zygomatic bone, that is characterized by a cortical bone with a dense trabecular structure [6] . Zygomatic implant placement is a less invasive technique when compared to bone grafting. The grafting procedures increase the number of surgical procedures, overall cost, and treatment duration, causing severe discomfort for the patients [4] [7] [8] .
The original placement technique recommends that the zygomatic implants should be placed through the maxillary sinus and anchored in the zygomatic bone [9] , however, different fixation techniques of the implants were developed to improve the positioning with respect to the alveolar ridge [1] [7] [10] favoring the prosthetic rehabilitation.
The surgical and prosthetic resolution should allow patients similar biomechanical conditions to their natural teeth [10] . This resolution is not possible every time because there may be limitations imposed by the characteristics presented by patients.
Therefore, we present a report of a zygomatic implant-supported prosthesis, in a complete denture patient who had difficulties in singing and talking.
2. Case Report
A 52-year-old male, singer, presented for treatment at the clinic of Dental School of Ribeirao Preto with complaints about zygomatic implants rehabilitation done 8 months before. Clinical examination revealed a completely edentulous patient who had severe atrophy of the maxilla with extensive resorption of the alveolar bone, loss of lip support, and four zygomatic implants that were placed in the maxillary cuspid and premolar regions with healing abutments positioned (Figure 1). The original Branemark et al. (2004) surgical technique was used to place the zygomatic implants [9] . Figure 2 shows the panoramic radiography after the zygomatic implant placements.
The conventional total denture needed to be adjusted over the healing abutments. Small portions of zinc-enolic paste catalyst were put over the healing abutments and the denture was inserted in the oral cavity in order to mark position of the healing abutments on the prosthesis. In these points were made perforations with a tungsten carbide bur to allow adaptation of the denture over the healing abutments while maintaining the correct seating on the support areas. Perforations were sealed with autopolymerizing acrylic resin conforming to the contour of the healing abutments that allowed the adaptation and use of the denture (Figure 3).
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Figure 1. Complete edentulism with severe atrophy of maxilla and extensive resorption into the basal bone, high arched palate, and 04 zygomatic implants.
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Figure 2. Panoramic radiography after the zygomatic implant placement.
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Figure 3. Relining of prosthesis to allow adaptation and use over the healing abutments.
Impressions of the implants and the residual ridge were made for the abutment selection. After installing the abutments, open-tray transfers were adapted and splinted with acrylic-resin, and an impression was made with a plastic tray using silicone impression material. Working cast was obtained and a multi-functional guide was fabricated using these models. The maxillomandibular relation was recorded using this multi-functional guide. The framework was fabricated using nickel-chromium alloy. Over this framework, artificial teeth were mounted and after esthetic and functional try-ins the prosthesis was finalized.
After a two weeks period of use of the prosthesis, the patient reported difficulty in speaking in addition to air leakage and change in the voice’s tone. Then, the relining of the prosthesis was made to seal the space between it and the soft tissue.
The prosthesis was removed and cleaned, and a polyether adhesive layer was applied and an impression using polyether impression material was taken (Figure 4). The working cast obtained (Figure 5) was sent to a laboratory to fill-up the space using thermo-polymerizing acrylic resin. Figure 6 shows the prosthesis after the anterior space was filled-up with acrylic resin.
3. Discussion
Zygomatic implants have been indicated for severely atrophic maxilla and have shown promising outcomes [1] [3] [4] [5] . However, depending on the surgical technique, the implants can be positioned palatally, making the prosthetic rehabilitation difficult.
The use of the temporary complete denture is important for the patient that was treated with zygomatic implants because this maintains acceptable esthetics, masticatory and speech function during the healing process, and also explores the occlusal and esthetic position of teeth [3] . However, this temporary prosthesis presented different form from the definitive prosthesis due to the presence of the buccal flange that prevented the air leakage. In the present case report, after a period of two weeks with the interim complete prosthesis, the patient reported increased chewing ability but due to increased thickness in palatal region he reported difficulty speaking and singing.
A disadvantage of the technique utilized for the placement of zygomatic implants is the palatal implant emergence, which causes a reduction of the distance between the implants [1] , reduced space for the tongue and the difficulties presented by the patient probably occurred due to necessity for the tongue’s adaptation to such modifications.
When the Branemark protocol prosthesis was fitted and, at first, the patient’s expectations for esthetic, adaptation, stability, and retention were successfull.
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Figure 4. Impression using polyether material.
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Figure 5. Working cast and relining of the prosthesis.
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Figure 6. Prosthesis after the completion of the anterior space with acrylic resin.
But during follow-up, the patient continued to report difficulty in speaking and singing and also complaining of air leakage and loss of tone in his voice.
When the prosthesis is fitted, teeth position, palatal contours, occlusal vertical dimension and flange thickness can affect or interfere with speech articulation and intelligibility [2] . In this specific case of the implant-supported screw-retained prosthesis unlike the conventional complete denture intimate contact of the flange extension with the labial sulcus is not present therefore air may escape through the space between the prosthesis and gingiva, changing the speech of the individual as in the case of the patient who uses his voice professionally and this represents a significant disorder for him. However, this space is necessary and essential to the cleansing of the area and for the maintenance of healthy tissues.
During treatment planning every advantage and disadvantage must be explained to the patient so that the patient is aware of and understands the limitations of each treatment, especially if some expectation is not met. In this case, the patient’s voice was the work tool and the palatal conformation, severely resorbed maxilla and zygomatic implant position contributed to potentiate the problems with speech.
The resorption pattern of the maxilla and the selected surgical technique required the placement of the zygomatic implant in the palatal region of the resorbed posterior maxilla. In some cases, this prominence can disturb the patient’s tongue but this discomfort should be transient and tolerable [11] . However, some researchers believe that the palatal zygomatic implant position causes neither discomfort nor problems in speech [9] . Although oriented on the possibility of problems in the voice, neither the professional nor the patient had experienced the extension of the problems in an individual who the voice is used as work tool. In this case it was a problem for the patient because he needs to use his voice in a more precise and refined way.
Because of this difficulty many visits for prosthetic adjustments were made, in order to reduce the thickness of the prosthesis in the palatal region but without compromising its resistance. However, air escape made it impossible for the patient to sing perfectly. The decision was then made fill-up the anterior space using acrylic resin even though the access at mucosal interface to fulfill hygienic demands had become more difficult. As cleaning is more difficult on the palatal side requiring reinforcement and modification of plaque control and home care maintenance [4] . Therefore, it was explained to the patient that this modification would require more effort in hygiene maintenance and more frequently periodic visits would be required
The functional result of this added resin was satisfactory to the patient. Even though the initial anterior pattern was not achieved he was able to return to his normal vocal activities.
4. Conclusion
Therefore, the prosthetic rehabilitation can restore aesthetics, self-esteem, chewing and speech, but depending on their structural characteristics, not always do these functions return to the same standard present in the natural dentition, requiring an adjustment period.
Consent
Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images.