Mandibular Reconstruction Using a Methyl Methacrylate Implant - Possibilities and Limitations

Methyl methacrylate is an alloplastic material used for bone replacement in various medically indicated cases, for addressing a range of problems, from simpler augmentation procedures to more complex reconstructions of larger bone segments. It is a material well known in surgery and commonly used in reconstructions of neurocranial bones and in orthopedics. However, its use in the area of the viscerocranium and mandible is very rare, as other alloplastic materials (e.g., titanium, PEEK) are more frequently employed for that purpose. Methyl methacrylate is a monomer of acrylic resin, whose main advantage lies in the ease with which it can be shaped (prior to hardening). This property enables the fabrication of in any shape according to precise defined specifications, which enables the reconstruction of various mandibular defects. Although the material is suitable and easy to use, and generally durable, it is, due to its porosity, highly susceptible to infection. In this regard, it may prove to be an unstable substitute for permanent bone replacement.