Defect reconstruction in oral squamous cell carcinoma patient using novel patient-specific polyether ether ketone implant: Report of a case

Oral squamous cell cancer comprises of one-third of carcinomas of the maxillofacial region. The principle of treatment involves the resection of the lesion with safe surgical margins. However, the rehabilitation of resected soft and hard tissues remains a challenging aspect for the maxillofacial surgeons. In the past few years, the alternatives for maxillofacial rehabilitation have been transmogrified. The profoundness of functional and esthetic significance of the face has led to evolving concepts in the field of reconstruction. With the emerging trends and search for a better reconstruction modality, a novel, biocompatible, and nonmetallic material that is polyether ether ketone (PEEK) was introduced that has shown to have good success rates in the past few years. However, its utility in the reconstruction of mandibular segmental defect is yet to be studied extensively. This case presents our success in reconstructing a mandibular segmental defect in an operated case of oral squamous cell carcinoma using a patient-specific PEEK implant with a follow-up period of 2 years.