• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.347-352
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• 2013

Malignant tumours of the oral cavity that require resection of the tongue result in severe deficiencies in speech and deglutition. In such patients, improvements in mastication, swallowing, and speech may be reasonable goals for treatment. The viability of a prosthodontic approach to treatment depends on the type and extent of surgery. In a total glossectomy, a mandibular tongue prosthesis is the treatment of choice. Mandibular tongue prosthesis occupies the space in the floor of the oral cavity. It provides the patients with a platform for directing food into the esophagus and aids in speaking. This type of prosthesis can achieve that protection of the underlying fragile tissue and improvement in appearance and psychosocial adjustment. This case report describes the technical steps involved in prosthetic rehabilitation for a glossectomy patient.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.152-156
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• 2018

Mandibular defects lead to severe deformation and functional deficiency. Vascularized osteocutaneous tissue has been widely used to reconstruct the mandible. However, it is technically challenging to shape this type of grafts in such a manner that they resemble the configuration of the mandible. A 48-year-old female patient who underwent anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap coverage after a tongue cancer excision was diagnosed with a tumor recurrence during the follow-up. A wide excision mandibulectomy and mandibular reconstruction with an ALT flap and a titanium implant were performed. The prefabricated titanium implant was fixed to the condyle. Then, an ALT flap was harvested from the ipsilateral thigh and anastomosed. After confirming that the circulation of the flap was intact, the implant was fixed to the parasymphysis. On the radiograph taken after the surgery, the prosthesis was well positioned and overall facial shape was acceptable. There was no postoperative complication during the follow-up period, 1 year and 2 months. The prefabricated implant allows the restoration of facial symmetry without harvesting autologous bone and it is a safe and effective surgical option for mandibular reconstruction.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.82-89
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• 2023

The tongue is one of the most common sites of oral cancer. Glossectomy is known as the gold standard for tongue cancer treatment. However, surgical removal can lead to reduced mobility of the tongue and the patients may have difficulty performing normal oral functions like swallowing and pronunciation. Therefore, additional prosthetic consideration to supplement the function of the impaired tongue is needed for oral rehabilitation of such patients. Palatal augmentation prosthesis helps the tongue to reach the palate by lowering the position of the palatal polished surface. The oral functions of the patients with limited tongue mobility can be improved by the prosthesis. In this case, palatal augmented maxillary denture and conventional mandibular denture were fabricated for the completely edentulous patient with reduced tongue mobility after glossectomy due to tongue cancer. As a result, the oral functions of the patient were improved with the prosthesis.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.113-123
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• 2001

The success of complete denture prosthesis is to satisfy three basic requirements for the edentulous patient : maximum comfort, efficiency, and esthetic appearance. This can be achieved only if the dentures are both stable and retentive. When the residual alveolar ridge has resorbed significantly, stability and retention are more dependent on the correct position of the teeth and external surfaces of the denture. The stability and retention of the denture can be improved by locating the denture in the neutral zone and reproducing exact mandibular border movement for balanced occlusion. The neutral zone philosophy is based upon the concept that there exists a specific area where the musculature function will not unseat the denture in the mouth. In here, forces generated by the tongue are neutralized by the forces generated by the lips and cheeks. One of the simplest methods for recording border movements in three dimensions is to make stereographic record of condylar movement. Stereographs are made in the mouth during mandibular movement with intraoral clutches and central bearing point, and used in dictating the condylar movement on the articulator later by generating the condylar paths in doughy acrylic resin. Its procedure is simpler and more convenient than that of Pantograph. In this clinical report, we introduce the concept of neutral zone and stereograph in complete denture fabrication.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.317-322
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• 2018

The tongue, especially its lateral part, is the most common site of oral tumors. Patients who undergo glossectomy for the treatment of tongue cancer may experience difficulty in proper functioning for pronunciation, chewing, swallowing, and oral hygiene maintenance; therefore, a palatal augmentation prosthesis can be used to restore function of the tongue. In this case, an implant overdenture was used in a patient who had residual ridge resorption and obliteration of alveololingual sulcus after undergoing glossectomy for tongue cancer treatment. In addition, a palatal augmentation prosthesis with a metal framework, support, and retention part was fabricated. The palatal vault was reduced, so that even with limited tongue movement, adequate tongue-palate contact could be achieved. After placement of the definitive prostheses, the patient showed improvement in the functions of chewing, swallowing, and pronunciation.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 2001

The prosthodontic treatment of severely resorbed edentulous patients has been one of the frustrating areas due to extensive loss of tissues. The integrated neuromuscular balance among tongue, lip, and cheek is compromised. The retention, stability, and support are the three major factors to influence the clinical outcome. Fish described a denture as having three surface, with each surface playing an independent and important role in the over all fit, stability, and comfort of the denture. He recommended that the polished surface should be a series of inclines so that pressure from muscular activity will retain dentures. Within the denture space there is an area that has been termed the neutral zone. The neutral zone is that area in the mouth where, during function, the forces of the tongue pressing outward are neutralized by the forces of the cheeks and lips pressing inward. According to Jacobson and Krol, neuromuscular control interacts to provide retention and the relationship of polished surface of denture base to the surrounding muscular structure of orofacial capsule facilitates the stability and retention. This neutral zone concept has been demonstrated with various modification by a number of authors. The theory used to develop the denture base contours is based on the belief that the muscle should functionally mold not only the border but the entire polished surface. Lott and Walsh reported the clinical success on complete mandibular dentures with application of neutral zone concept. A number of studies demonstrated that denture stability and retention are more dependent on correct position of the teeth and correct contour of external surfaces of the denture in a severely resorbed alveolar ridge. This article presents a prosthodontic approach to treatment of a edentulous patient using neutral zone technique to improve the retention and stability of the prosthesis.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.237-249
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• 2023

Orofacial dystonia is a neuromotor disorder that causes irregular or repetitive movements of the face, lips, tongue, and jaw involuntarily, also called tic disorder. Edentulous patients with these symptoms experience functional and aesthetic problems, including difficulty using complete dentures, speech and swallowing difficulties, and orofacial pain. In this case, for a patient with orofacial dystonia who experienced complete edentulism at a relatively young age, restorative treatment was performed with a maxillary complete denture with bilateral posterior zirconia occlusal surfaces and a mandibular implant-supported fixed prosthesis, and continuous smile training was performed. The aim was to improve the aesthetics of facial muscles. As a result of the treatment, the patient was very satisfied with not only improved chewing function and aesthetics, but also regained psychological stability and was able to lead a normal daily life, so we would like to report this.