The buccal fat pad flap: an option to prevent and treat complications regarding complex zygomatic implant surgery. Preliminary report.

PURPOSE To evaluate the use of the buccal fat pad flap (BFPF) technique as an option to prevent complications in the treatment of patients with atrophic maxillae rehabilitated after complex zygomatic implant surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective study was made of completely edentulous patients submitted to zygomatic implant surgery between May 2005 and November 2007. Patients with severely atrophic maxillae received conventional and zygomatic implants and were followed after the implants were loaded. Preoperative evaluation included panoramic radiography and computed tomographic scans of the maxilla to identify the anatomic conditions and presence of pathology. RESULTS Eight male patients with a mean age of 57 years and atrophic maxillae were rehabilitated with zygomatic implants placed using the BFPF technique. The BFPF technique was used in complex situations, including oroantral communication-associated sites, areas that had lost the sinus wall, and extrasinus implant placement. A total of 16 conventional implants, 4 long (21-mm) tilted implants, and 22 zygomatic implants was placed. The patients were rehabilitated with fixed prostheses and were followed for a minimum of 15 months. None of the conventional implants failed and none of the zygomatic implants failed or presented with soft tissue complications. CONCLUSION The BFPF presented a high success rate, demonstrating that it is a viable and predictable treatment option to prevent and treat soft tissue complications in complex zygomatic implant surgery.