Evaluation of Functional and Esthetic Outcome of Patients After Reconstruction with Mandibular Reconstruction Plates Preceded by Resection of Benign Odontogenic Neoplasms of Mandible: A Cohort Study

Large benign odontogenic neoplasms of mandible are not rare in developing countries such as India. Treatment of choice depends not only on extent and size of the lesion but also the socio-economic status, resources and available armamentarium. Whenever resection of segment mandible is planned for these patients, goal of the treatment should not be to restore function of the mandible alone but also to give esthetic visual appearance of the face. The present study was performed to determine postoperative functional and esthetic outcome in such patients. A total of 18 patients (20–35 years) with benign odontogenic neoplasm of mandible were enrolled for the study. After surgical intervention i.e., resection and reconstruction of mandible with mandibular reconstruction plate, all the patients were evaluated post-operatively for functional and esthetic outcome at the end of 1st and 4th week. Functional outcome were assessed based on Quality of life questionnaire and esthetic outcome based on vancouver scar assessment scale, clinical and radiological assessment. The mean scores of all the functional outcomes was improved significantly like pain, drooling of saliva, eating solid and liquid and speech except deglutition. The mean score of scar was recorded as 4.67. Occlusion was achieved in 100% and lips competency in 89% of patients. It is advised to immediately reconstruct the mandible after segmental mandibulectomy which eventually helps to improve the quality of life post-operatively of patients being treated for benign odontogenic neoplasm of mandible