Osseointegration in maxillofacial prosthetics. Part II: Extraoral applications.

The application of osseointegrated fixtures to the cranial skeleton for facial prosthesis retention marks a revolutionary step in the search for the perfect soft tissue replacement. They allow present elastomer technology to be used to its greatest potential by protecting surface coloration, eliminating adhesive-induced base material degeneration, and allowing the long-term retention of fine, but weak peripheral margins. Although not all facial defect patients are candidates for this approach, the concept as applied in our present experience has proved to be a valuable replacement for available adhesive systems.