Velo-palatal obturator prosthesis after maxillectomy following squamous cell carcinoma: a case report
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: The maxilla plays a primordial role in mastication, deglutition, and phonation.Maxillary defects can be the result of congenital factors, trauma, osteonecrosis, or even tumour pathology.The most common malignant tumours of the upper aero-digestive tract are squamous cell carcinomas.Soft and hard tissues defects resulting from resective surgeries of theses carcinomas cause damage on the functional, aesthetic, and psychological level.The treatment of postmaxillectomy defects includes different options, such as reconstructive surgery or rehabilitation with an obturator prosthesis.The treatment option depends on each clinical situation.The use of the removable obturator prosthesis offers several advantages by allowing the restoration of oral functions and improving patients' quality of life.We, herein, report an approach to fabricate a rigid maxillary obturator prosthesis for a partially edentulous female patient with a velo-palatal defect.The removable prosthesis is composed of two rigid obturators, one is palatal and the other is velar.The obturator prosthesis made it possible to close the oro-nasal communication and to improve swallowing, speaking and chewing.
Source: Prosthodontics
DOI: 10.5114/ps/192610
Institution: University of Monastir
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4401890847