Objective
This study aimed to compare the denture space of edentulous glossectomy patients with that of a control group from the perspective of artificial teeth positioning by using three‐dimensional techniques.
Background
It is known that the shape of the denture space may be affected by tongue resection or reconstruction. However, the details of artificial teeth positioning in these patients remain unclear.
Materials and methods
Six edentulous glossectomy patients aged 73‐83 years and six normal participants aged 74‐85 years participated in the study. Piezography was used to elucidate the characteristics of the denture space. For visualisation, piezographic records were scanned using cone beam computed tomography and the data were converted into stereolithographic format. Three‐dimensional images of piezographic records were then constructed. Bucco‐lingual widths of the mandibular occlusal surface were reproduced, and the camber line of the occlusal surface was set so as to simulate the position of the artificial teeth. The maximum chord of the occlusal surface on the left and right sides was recorded and measured. The discrepancy and ratio of the larger chord to the smaller chord between the right and left sides was calculated and subjected to statistical analyses using the Mann‐Whitney U test.
Results
There were significant differences in discrepancy and ratio between the left and right in the control group and the glossectomy patients (P ˂ .01). The glossectomy patients showed a greater discrepancy and ratio than the control group.
Conclusions
The simulated artificial teeth positions on the occlusal surface between the right and left side were asymmetric in glossectomy patients.
Purpose: This study sought to geometrically evaluate the effect of a mandibular prosthesis on facial asymmetry in patients with one of two different types of mandibulectomy defect. Methods: Facial data from 20 participants (9 men and 11 women; mean age 68 years) with either a reconstructed segmental defect (segmental group, n = 10) or a marginal mandibulectomy defect (marginal group, n =10) were acquired with a non-contact three-dimensional (3D) digitizer. Facial asymmetry was evaluated by superimposing a facial scan onto its mirror scan using 3D evaluation software. Facial scans with and without the mandibular prosthesis in place were also superimposed to evaluate the effect of the mandibular prosthesis. Results: Facial asymmetry differed significantly between subjects with and without the prosthesis in the segmental group (P = 0.005) but not in the marginal group (P = 0.16). There was no significant difference in the effect of the prosthesis on facial appearance between the two groups (P = 0.052). The ratio of 3D deviation of facial asymmetry without the prosthesis and in the mirror scan with the prosthesis differed significantly between the two groups (P = 0.01). Conclusions: Placement of a mandibular prosthesis has a notable effect on facial asymmetry in patients with segmental mandibulectomy defects.
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