West Virginia University's School of Dentistry and WVU Medicine in Morgantown are partnering to provide oral cancer patients dental implants through a new innovative technique, according to a July 23 WVNews article.
The Alberta Reconstructive Technique was created at the University of Alberta in Canada. It involves surgeons creating 3D-printed models using preoperative planning that can be used as cutting guides during dental implant installation.
Patients normally have to wait months or years to get prosthetic teeth after reconstructive jaw surgery. However, the Alberta Reconstructive Technique will allow patients to receive their implants at the time of surgery.
WVU School of Dentistry assistant professor Matthew Harper, DDS, and WVU Medicine head and neck surgeon Jeffson Chung, MD, recently completed their third implantation. They both expect a continued need for this surgery due to high tobacco use in the state, which has led West Virginia to have a higher rate of oral cancer than the national average.