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Case Report Plastic and Aesthetic Research

Aesthetic rehabilitation of a patient with

an anterior maxillectomy defect, using

an innovative single-step, single unit,

plastic-based hollow obturator

Vishwas Bhatia , Garima Bhatia 2
1
1 Department of Prosthodontics, King Khalid University, Abha 61412, Saudi Arabia.
2 Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, PDM Dental College and Hospital, Bahadurgarh, Haryana 124507, India.
Address for correspondence: Dr. Vishwas Bhatia, Department of Prosthodontics, King Khalid University, Abha 61412, Saudi Arabia.
E-mail: vishwas211@yahoo.co.in

ABSTRACT
What could be better than improving the comfort and quality of life of a patient with a life-threatening
disease? Maxillectomy, the partial or total removal of the maxilla in patients suffering from benign or
malignant neoplasms, creates a challenging defect for the maxillofacial prosthodontist when attempting
to provide an effective obturator. Although previous methods have been described for rehabilitation
of such patients, our goal should be to devise one stage techniques that will allow the patient an
improved quality of life as soon as possible. The present report describes the aesthetic rehabilitation of
a maxillectomy patient by use of a hollow obturator. The obturator is fabricated through a processing
technique which is a variation of other well-known techniques, consisting of the use of a single-step
flasking procedure to fabricate a single-unit hollow obturator using the lost salt technique. As our aim
is to aesthetically and functionally rehabilitate the patient as soon as possible, the present method of
restoring the maxillectomy defect is cost-effective, time-saving and beneficial for the patient.
Key words:
Aesthetics, maxillectomy, palatal obturator, plastic-based, squamous cell carcinoma

INTRODUCTION deficit, there is a marked effect on aesthetics without the
presence of an obturator.
A conventional surgical excision is the most common An obturator is that component of a prosthesis, which
method for treatment of a maxillary oral squamous cell fits into and closes a defect within the oral cavity or
carcinoma (SCC). The resulting surgical defect often another body defect. In the past, various methods have
[2]
includes part of the hard palate which results in oro-antral been used to restore the maxillary defect using silicon
[1]
communication. Patients undergoing surgery alone bulb obturators, implant-supported obturators, and cast
without closure or obturation of the surgical defect metal obturators. This clinical report describes a method
face numerous problems in phonetics and mastication for aesthetic rehabilitation of a patient with a partial
secondary to the passage of air, food and liquids into the maxillectomy defect, using a light-weight, single-unit,
nasal and maxillary sinus. In addition to the functional
closed hollow obturator fabricated by an innovative
single-step flasking technique using the lost salt method.
Access this article online The technique assists in fabrication of an obturator,
which restores aesthetics, function, speech, and dental
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Website: appearance.
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CASE REPORT
DOI:
10.4103/2347-9264.157110 A 47-year-old man, diagnosed with SCC of the palate
extending into the maxillary sinus, underwent a partial

140 Plast Aesthet Res || Vol 2 || Issue 3 || May 15, 2015