The success of the use of vascularized bone free flaps in restoring continuity to the mandible is clearly demonstrated in this series. There was an acceptable incidence of donor- and recipient-site complications that resulted in minimal long-term morbidity. The careful selection of a donor site(s) for oromandibular reconstruction allows for an optimal restoration of bony and soft tissue defects. Dental implants can be safely used in oromandibular reconstruction with a high level of success. Placing these implants during the initial surgery shortens the duration for achieving dental rehabilitation and enhances the success of the implants when postoperative radiotherapy is administered.

Surgical reconstruction of maxillectomy defects has been described as an alternative to prosthetic rehabilitation to close the oral cavity. Advancements in microvascular surgical techniques require comprehensive treatment planning guidelines for functional rehabilitation. This retrospective study evaluated acquired maxillectomy defects after surgical reconstruction and/or prosthodontic rehabilitation in an attempt to establish surgical and prosthodontic guidelines that could be organized into a classification system. Forty-seven consecutive patient treatments of palatomaxillary reconstruction at a single facility, The Mount Sinai Medical Center (New York, N.Y.), were reviewed. All patients were rehabilitated with a tissue-borne obturator, a local advancement flap, a fasciocutaneous free flap, or a vascularized bone-containing free flap. Palatomaxillary defects were divided into 3 major classes and 2 subclasses. The aim of this defect-oriented classification system was to organize and define the complex nature of the restorative decision-making process for the maxillectomy patient. (J Prosthet Dent 2001;86:352-63.) 352 THE JOURNAL OF PROSTHETIC DENTISTRY VOLUME 86 NUMBER 4

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