An ameloblastoma is a fairly common and highly aggressive odontogenic tumor of epithelial origin commonly found in posterior mandible and treated with the surgical excision.1 As a general rule, the resection of a portion of the mandible without loss of mandibular continuity is usually not as debilitating as a resection that compromises mandibular continuity.2 Loss of mandibular continuity causes deviation of remaining mandibular segment(s) towards the defect and rotation of the mandibular occlusal plane inferiorly. When surgery includes a segmental mandibulectomy, masticatory function is compromised because of muscular imbalance that results from unilateral muscle removal, altered maxillomandibular relationship, and decreased tooth-to-tooth contacts. Although immediate mandibular reconstruction aims to restore facial symmetry, arch alignment, and stable occlusion, masticatory function often remains compromised.3,4 In 1990, a review5 of 32 articles described outcomes of various mandibular reconstruction techniques and indicated that functional outcomes were provided for only 4% of the 782 patients evaluated. Prosthetic rehabilitation was presented for only 16 patients (2%) of all mandibular reconstructions. Significant strides in microvascular surgical approaches during the past decade have permitted predictable restoration of bony and soft tissue orofacial defects.6-10 However, limited studies indicate only varying degrees of improvement in terms of esthetics, speech intelligibility, swallowing, and masticatory performance.11-17 The longitudinal prospective study was designed by Garrett et al.18 to determine whether conventional prostheses or implant-supported prostheses and current surgical reconstructive procedures restore patients'oral functions and quality of life to their status prior to segmental mandibulectomy with immediate fibula free-flap reconstruction. They concluded that 72% (33/46) of the subjects enrolled were able and willing to complete treatment with conventional prosthesis, and only 35% (16/46) with completed implant-supported prostheses treatment. Guide flange prosthesis (GFP) is a mandibular conventional prosthesis designed for the patient who is able to achieve an appropriate mediolateral position of the mandible but is unable to repeat this position consistently for adequate mastication.19 This case report describes early prosthodontic management (during initial healing period of the reconstructed mandible) of a patient who has undergone a hemimandibulectomy (from left condyle to left parasymphyseal region) and reconstructed with an autogenous microvascular fibula free-flap (FFF). Modified GFP and the maxillary stabilization plate were fabricated to treat the patient.

A 17 year old girl was referred to the Department of Prosthodontics (Government Dental College and Hospital, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India) for prosthetic rehabilitation following a hemi-mandibulectomy reconstructed with FFF. A detailed case history revealed that the patient was diagnosed with the follicular ameloblastoma of the left mandible 6 months back. A pre-surgical panoramic radiograph revealed extensive radiolucency in the entire left ramus (including a coronoid process) and left body of the mandible up to the first premolar region (Fig. 1A). The patient had undergone hemimandibulectomy (from the left condyle to the left parasymphyseal region) and the resultant defect was immediately reconstructed with the FFF 4 months back. A post-surgical panoramic radiograph revealed reconstruction bone-plates in the anterior region joining the right half of the normal mandible to the horizontally aligned FFF (Fig. 1B). The reconstruction bone-plate was also observed in the left mandibular angle region joining the horizontal and vertical segments of the FFF (Fig. 1B). Condylar end of the FFF was not coinciding with the condylar fossa but observed to be shifted anterior to the articular eminence. Intraoral examination revealed thick, freely movable soft tissues with scar formation, loss of alveolar ridge and obliteration of buccal and lingual sulci in the left half of mandibular region (distal to left lateral incisor) (Fig. 2). The deviation of mandible was observed towards the reconstructed (left) side (about 10 - 12 mm from midline on 40 mm of mouth opening) on opening due to the effect of the normal right mandibular depressor muscles action (Fig. 2). The patient was able to achieve an appropriate mediolateral position of the mandible but was unable to repeat this position consistently for adequate mastication. On the basis of clinical and radiographic examination the patient was classified as Class IV (severely compromised) according to Prosthodontic Diagnostic Index Resources for partial edentulous patients as described by McGarry et al.20

A stainless steel stock edentulous tray (modified by trimming buccal flange of left half) and irreversible hydrocolloid (Dentalgin; Prime dental products, Mumbai, India) were used to record preliminary impression of the mandibular arch. Maxillary impression was also made with irreversible hydrocolloid. The impressions were poured with Type III gypsum material (Kalstone; Kalabhai Karson, Mumbai, India) and casts were retrieved. A 19 gauge hard, round, stainless steel orthodontic wire (KC Smith and Co, Monmouth, UK) was manipulated (as shown in Figs 3A and B) to fabricate a substructure for the modified GFP. The vestibular (buccal and lingual) flanges and the mandibular guide-flange were waxed-up with modeling wax (Modeling wax; Deepti Dental Products, Ratnagiri, India) around the wire substructure by keeping a maxillary cast in occlusion and subsequently acrylized into the clear heat-polymerized acrylic resin (DPI Heat cure clear; Dental products of India, Mumbai, India) to make the GFP (Fig. 4). A 19 gauge hard, round, stainless steel orthodontic wire was manipulated to fabricate C clasps on the first premolars and first molars on both the sides of the maxillary cast. A single thickness modeling wax was adapted on the maxillary cast covering entire hard palate and the occlusal surfaces of the left posterior teeth and subsequently acrylized into the heat-polymerized clear acrylic resin to make the maxillary stabilization plate (Fig. 5). The acrylic resin extended over the occlusal surfaces of the left maxillary posterior teeth prevents the possible extrusion of the teeth till replacement of mandibular teeth on defect side. The GFP and the maxillary stabilization plate were finished and polished in usual manner.

The GFP was tried in patient's mouth and the initial stability and retention was checked. The inclination of the guide-flange was adjusted by selectively trimming the teeth-contacting surface or adding the auto-polymerizing clear acrylic resin (DPI Cold cure clear; Dental products of India, Mumbai, India). Thus the smooth gliding flange surface was developed intraorally to guide the mandible in a definite closing point (rather than the area) in occlusion. Care should be taken to preserve the buccal-surface indentations of the opposing maxillary teeth which were guiding the mandible in a final definite closing point during mastication. The flange height was adjusted in such a way that it guided the mandible from large opening position (in practical limits of the height of the buccal vestibule) to the maximum intercuspation in a smooth and unhindered path (Fig. 6 A, B and C). The prosthesis was delivered and post-insertion instructions were given. The patient was followed up at the regular interval of two months for next one year. Patient's last recall visit was after one and half year of the reconstruction. The patient was pleased with the overall performance of the prosthesis and successfully speaks and masticates without clinically significant deviation. No clinically significant extrusion was observed with maxillary teeth.

Depending upon the location and extent of the tumor in the mandible, various surgical treatment modalities like marginal, segmental, hemi, subtotal, or total mandibulectomy can be performed.2 Loss of mandibular continuity causes deviation of remaining mandibular segment(s) towards the defect and rotation of the mandibular occlusal plane inferiorly. Mandibular deviation toward the defect side occurs primarily because of the loss of tissue involved in the surgical resection.2 A vertical extension from the buccal aspect of a mandibular prosthesis extends to contact the buccal surface of the opposing maxillary teeth. This extension maintains the mandible in the proper mediolateral position for vertical chewing, but little, if any, lateral movement is possible. When a segment of the mandible is removed, immediate reconstruction is usually recommended to improve both facial symmetry and masticatory function. Although techniques for reconstructive surgery and prosthodontic rehabilitation have advanced, more than 50% of reconstructed head and neck cancer patients still report impaired masticatory function.3,4 Recent advancements in facial reconstructive surgery and osseointegrated dental implants provide a treatment modality that may adequately rehabilitate oral cancer patients so that they can return to a healthy, productive life.

Though osseointegrated dental implants is the final solution for replacing the missing teeth for reconstructed mandibulectomy patients, the clinicians must wait for extensive period of time (more than a year) for completion of healing and acceptance of the osseous graft. During this initial healing period early prosthodontic intervention by mandibular guide flange and maxillary stabilization prosthesis serve the purpose of reducing the mandibular deviation, preventing extrusion of the maxillary teeth and improving the masticatory efficiency. The patient presented in this article was a teenager female who was very esthetic conscious. Our principal aim was to maintain her esthetics during mandibular movements. Hence the GFP was fabricated in clear acrylic resin and the retentive wire components were kept distal to the mandibular canine to minimize the prosthesis display. Another purpose to keep the prosthesis components distally was to prevent any disturbance of the GFP in anterior area where the FFF was attached to the normal mandible with the bone plates. The retentive components were modified and incorporated into the prosthesis as a wire substructure. Because of amount of force which can be generated by the flange against the maxillary teeth the maxillary stabilizing plate was provided to resist their palatal orthodontic movement. The purpose of occlusal extensions on maxillary left posteriors was to prevent the extrusion of the teeth because of missing opposing mandibular teeth. The retentive components of the maxillary stabilization plate were also kept distal to the canines to minimize the display during functions.

The flange of GFP was localized to three teeth (two premolars and a first molar) to avoid possible dislodging forces in the anterior lingual sulcus area (i.e. junction between mandible and fibula) and to minimize the display due to the esthetic concerns. Though the lingual flange of the GFP was short in length, it was sufficient to stabilize the GFP (in this particular patient) as the deviation force was lesser than the stability of the GFP. The lingual flange extension on the entire lingual surfaces of the three teeth and deep in the lingual sulcus also helps increasing the stability of the prosthesis. Orthodontic teeth movement of these teeth was one of the concerns. We did not find any clinically significant teeth movement on one and half year follow-up-visit may be due to extension of the flanges of the GFP over entire alveolar segment along with the teeth. However the GFP can be extended as long as possible to improve the stability of the appliance as esthetics and comfort permits. The stress resulted from the GFP can affect healed junction between mandible and grafted fibula, and healed mandibular angle portion between fibula and fibula. In such situation the prosthetic intervention can only be started after complete healing of the graft. Care must be taken not to extend the prosthesis in the junctional area of the graft and the normal tissue.

Support for the GFP is no different from that of any other removable prosthesis, the natural teeth and the residual alveolar ridge being the primary sources. Multiple retentive clasps in widely distributed areas of the arch would be the best approach, but actual placement would be determined by the position of the teeth. Retentive elements should be no more rigid than necessary, but they require a more rigidity with a decreasing number of teeth.19 In the presented case retentive components were modified and incorporated into the prosthesis as a wire substructure. The buccal and lingual vestibular flanges can be brought closer by bending the occlusal cross-over wire components with a universal orthodontic plier to improve the retention.

The GFP can be regarded as a training type of prosthesis. If the patient can successfully repeat the mediolateral position, the GFP can often be discontinued. Some patient, however, may continue indefinitely with a guide flange, and the stress generated to the remaining teeth must then be carefully monitored.