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

[BACKGROUND] The microvascular bone free flap (MBFF) is the preferred reconstruction after mandibular resection as it facilitates secondary dental rehabilitation.

[METHODS] In this multicenter study, patients were included if treated between January 2017 and January 2022 for head and neck cancer with MBFF reconstruction.

[RESULTS] 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.

[CONCLUSION] The rate of dental rehabilitation is still insufficient. The presence of a dental specialist is essential.