Two‐Piece Hollow Bulb Obturator for Postsurgical Partial Maxillectomy Defect in a Young Patient Revamping Lost Malar Prominence: A Clinical Report

Abstract

The most frequent type of treatment for patients diagnosed with a malignant neoplasia of the oral cavity is surgical resection of the tumor. Ablative surgery may be followed by a reconstructive phase, in which the surgeon may choose between local flaps, nonvascularized bone grafts or free vascularized flaps to close the surgical site, depending on the general conditions of the patient. Esthetic and functional results are challenging to achieve for the prosthodontist, as variable amount of hard and soft tissues are removed. This report describes the fabrication of a two-piece hollow obturator for a 19-year-old patient who underwent wide surgical excision of the osteosarcoma of the maxilla and was rehabilitated to function. In this case, the surgical site was covered with submental flap, and the second piece of the obturator provided fullness to the lost malar prominence.

Management of Palatal Defects after Free-Flap Reconstruction and Radiotherapy

“…Of note, the extra cost, extended operative times, and patient motivations are major barriers for implant placement. 15,54 If a palatal obturator is planned for the primary treatment of a palatal defect, implants can be placed in available bone surrounding the defect (e.g., residual maxilla, pterygoid plates, or zygoma) to improve prosthetic retention and stability. Implants not placed in the alveolus have worse osseointegration and are difficult to restore and maintain.…”

“…Of note, the extra cost, extended operative times, and patient motivations are major barriers for implant placement. 15 54…”