Jaw Angle Implants

Q: Dr. Eppley, I met with a plastic surgery this week for a consultation and asked about the posterior jaw implants. He said no one really does them any more because the implants are known to slip and move a lot. What do you do different to combat this complication? Is this a frequent problem you have dealt with? Thanks.

A: I am afraid that your surgeon is misinformed and not up to date on the most contemporary techniques and use of jaw angle implants. Not only have the styles of jaw angle implants changed but it is now routinue to secure them into place with a single small microscrew. This obviates the entire problem of jaw angle implant slippage after surgery and does a much better job of maintaining intraoperative positioning. There can still be issues with malposition due to intraoperative placement like any other bilateral implant procedure but secure fixation to the bone is the key to obviating the potential movements of jaw angle implants in the submasseteric pocket location.

Along with the understanding that fixation is needed is the development and use of new styles and sizes for jaw angle implants. Vertically lengthening has been an inability to be achieved with older style jaw angle implants.

Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana