An inflatable obturator for use following maxillectomy

Inflatable hollow obturator prostheses for patients undergoing an extensive maxillectomy: a case report

“…Our inflatable obturator can be easily placed in undercuts when compressed and extends further when inflated, thereby improving retention without causing obvious discomfort. Compared with the semi-customized balloon-shaped inflatable latex obturator designed by Payne and Welton, 8 this new hollow and inflatable obturator is completely customized according to the configuration and size of defects and has been proven clinically. With this advantage, an obturator with the same shape as the defect can extend into the undercut area and engage the undercut more evenly.…”

“…Finding a way to retain the prosthesis then becomes a problem. Payne and Welton 8 designed a latex rubber balloon attached to a denture that was inflated with air to fill the surgical defect, but its clinical usage has not been reported. In the last decade, silicone materials have been widely used to manufacture obturator prostheses.…”

Treatment of a Maxillectomy Patient with Limited Mouth Opening Using an Inflatable Obturator - A Case Report

“…Obturator designs for partial and total maxillectomy defects include open and closed hollow obturators [2][3][4][5][6] inflatable obturators [7] and two-piece hollow obturator prosthesis.8 Heavy weight of the obturators is often a dislocating factor. Hollowing the prosthesis to reduce its weight is the well-established fact [8,9].…”

Construction of a maxillary prosthesis with a hollow obturator by the balloon technique and a case report.

“…The conventional processes for making a hollow obturator include: 1) A method of completing a hollow by first removing stuffing from an obturator made of methacrylate resin, and then covering up the outlet from which the stuffing was removed with self-curing resin[1-4"6-8], 2) a method of completing a hollow by first creating a slightly smaller hollow by pasting together bowl-shaped objects made of methacrylate resin, and then wrapping it with denture base resin at the time of making the denture base [8], or 3) a method of creating a hollow by attaching a bulb system used for tires to a latex rubber balloon [15].…”