Surgical and Prosthodontic Treatment of a Patient with Significant Trauma to the Middle and Lower Face Secondary to a Gunshot Wound: A Clinical Report

Large defects of dentofacial structures may result from trauma, disease (including neoplasms), and congenital anomalies. The location and size of the defects are related to difficulties that patients report relative to speech, mastication, swallowing, facial esthetics, and self-image. This article reports on the evaluation and treatment of a patient who suffered significant trauma to the lower and mid-face secondary to a gunshot injury. It describes the initial presentation, life-saving procedures, and subsequent bone grafts, implant placement, and prosthetic treatments required to rehabilitate the patient to a condition that closely approximated his preoperative condition. This clinical report confirms that no matter the degree of complexity involved in treating the results of significant facial trauma, successful treatment is dependent on thorough physical and radiographic examinations, development of the appropriate diagnoses, and treatment based on sound prosthodontic and surgical principles.