Microvascular free fibula transfer is accepted as the gold standard in jaw reconstruction following ablative surgery. Apart from fibula, other free bone flaps are also used in select situations. With the emphasis shifting to the quality of life in the post-treatment phase, dental rehabilitation has acquired an unprecedented importance. Implant-supported dentures are certainly the best way to achieve this.

Implantology in reconstructed jaw is vastly different from the conventional technique. One needs to decide upon many critical issues such as choice of flap, primary/secondary implant placement, radiotherapy, prioritising between form and function, soft tissue pedicles etc. It is important to make certain that bone tissue of adequate quantity and quality are available at the required site. To ensure this, planning for dental rehabilitation should start in the early stages of treatment planning.

At our centre, implant-based dental rehabililitation on free flaps have been practiced over the past several years. In this paper, we shall discuss the issues related to implantology in free fibula flaps, with emphasis on problems and their solutions in the planning phase.

Conflict of interest: None declared.