Two years ago, Israel Lomat, a 14-year-old, went to his dentist for a routine check-up. During the appointment, he learned that he needed to have his wisdom teeth removed. However, a troubling X-ray revealed a more serious issue: a void in the bone of his jaw.
His mother, Fokikovi Leger, immediately sought a second opinion from a doctor. The diagnosis was even more alarming. Lomat had a tumor growing in his jaw, slowly destroying the bone. While the tumor was benign, the doctor warned that it could worsen over time if left untreated.
“I was shocked and nervous,” Lomat recalled. “I thought I was just going to get my wisdom teeth taken out, and now I was going to need to have my jaw removed.”
A Life-Changing Referral
Lomat’s dentist referred him to UC Davis Health for further treatment. There, he was treated by a multidisciplinary team, including Marianne Abouyared, head and neck surgeon; Darin Johnston, oral and maxillofacial surgeon; and William Love, director of UC Davis dental services.
After assessing his condition, the team determined that Lomat was a candidate for a groundbreaking jaw restoration procedure. This surgery, which had never been performed in Northern California, would allow Lomat to receive a jaw replacement and dental implants in a single operation, instead of undergoing multiple surgeries over the course of a year or more.
A Pioneering Surgical Approach
The innovative procedure involves removing the tumor, then using a piece of the patient’s fibula (the bone from the lower leg) as a bone implant. Along with this, prefabricated dental prosthetics are placed in the same surgery. The team uses advanced 3D scans to create custom guides that help them shape the fibula into the required jaw form and place the dental implants. A titanium plate is also used to secure the transplanted bone in place.
“This innovative procedure offers our patients a new level of care that prevents them from needing multiple surgeries and immediately restores the form and function of their jaw,” said Abouyared. “This effort takes a multidisciplinary team and is only possible due to the collaboration of our incredible team of surgeons and dentists here at UC Davis.”
Thanks to this groundbreaking procedure, Lomat was able to undergo a successful surgery that restored his jaw and dental function in one go, drastically improving his quality of life.
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