Will Medpor Jaw Angle Implant Revision (Exchange) Achieve My Desired Jaw Look?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had Medpor jaw angle implants placed (medium design onlays) However I am not completely satisfied as it was the RZ mandibular angle implants I thought I was getting but I thought I’ll give it time to see the results. But they have added absolutely zero vertical length at my angle and are too small. 

I am looking for a revision jaw angle implant surgery and I want it done with best chance of success and it’s your name I’m constantly hearing of . I am wanting these removed and replaced with the large RZ implants.  I’m hoping for a good bit of flare along with a drop down at the angle also. What would be the start in getting a rough cost and the getting the process started with yourself. 

A: Thank you for your inquiry and detailing your jaw angle implant surgery history. Whether your goal of achieving ‘a good bit of flare with a drop down at the angle’ with standard jaw angle implants remains unknown to me at present. Until I know exactly where your current implants are positioned, how they compare to that of the dimensions of RZ implants, and what you look like before, now as well as what your computer imaged goals are, I do not yet have confidence that such a standard implant exchange can be aesthetically successful for you. 

It becomes critical to determine before another surgery that it can truly be successful. Given the challenge that removing Medpor jaw angle implants poses, you would want to have a high level of confidence that it will work.

The first step is to get a 3D CT scan of the lower jaw (CBCT or cone beam scan) to see the current location of your implants.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Inianapolis, Indiana