• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.248-253
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• 2012

Maxillary obturator prosthesis is the most frequent treatment option for management of partial or total maxillectomy. Heavy weight of the obturators is often a dislocating factor. Hollowing the prosthesis to reduce its weight is the well established fact. The alternate technique to hollow-out the prosthesis has been described in this article which is a variation of previously described processing techniques. A pre-shaped wax-bolus was incorporated inside the flasks during packing of the heat-polymerized acrylic resin to automatically create the hollow space. The processing technique described is a single step flasking procedure to construct a closed-hollow-obturator prosthesis as a single unit. To best understand the technique, this article describes management of a patient who had undergone partial maxillectomy secondary to squamous cell carcinoma rehabilitated with a hollow-obturator prosthesis.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.235-238
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• 2012

Facial prosthesis is generally considered over surgical reconstruction to restore function and appearance in patients with facial defects that resulted from cancer resection. Retention of the prosthesis is challenging due to its size and weight. Retention can be achieved by using medical grade adhesives, resilient attachments, clips and osseointegrated implants. It can also be connected to obturator by magnets. This clinical report highlights the rehabilitation of a lateral midfacial defect with a two piece prosthesis that included an extra oral facial prosthesis and an intraoral obturator with the use of magnets.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2013

PURPOSE. To longitudinally assess the quality of life in maxillectomy patients rehabilitated with obturator prosthesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Thirty-six subjects were enrolled in the span of 16 months, out of which six were dropouts. Subjects (age group 20-60 years) with maxillary defects, irrespective of the cause, planned for definite obturator prosthesis, were recruited. The Hindi version of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, Head and Neck version 1 of Quality of Life Questionnaire was used before surgical intervention and one month after definitive obturator. Questionnaire includes 35 questions related to the patient's physical health, well being, psychological status, social relation and environmental conditions. The data were processed with statistical package for social science (SPSS). Probability level of P<.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS. The quality of life after rehabilitation with obturator prosthesis was 81.48% (${\pm}13.64$) on average. On item-level, maximum mean scores were obtained for items problem with teeth ($1.87{\pm}0.94$), pain in mouth ($1.80{\pm}0.92$), trouble in eating ($1.70{\pm}0.88$), trouble in talking to other people ($1.60{\pm}1.22$), problems in swallowing solid food ($1.57{\pm}1.22$) and bothering appearance ($1.53{\pm}1.04$); while minimum scores were obtained for the items coughing ($1.17{\pm}0.38$), hoarseness of voice ($1.17{\pm}0.53$), painful throat ($1.13{\pm}0.43$), trouble in having social contacts with friends ($1.10{\pm}0.40$) and trouble having physical contacts with family or friends ($1.10{\pm}0.31$). CONCLUSION. Obturator prosthesis is a highly positive and non-invasive approach to improve the quality of life of patients with maxillectomy defects.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.349-355
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• 2020

The use of an obturator prosthesis for patients with maxillary defects is a common treatment method to improve their oral function and achieve esthetic satisfaction. However, due to various difficulties and complexities, conventional methods for fabricating dental obturators continue to pose a challenge for dentists and patients, as well as laboratory technicians. CAD-CAM technologies may make it simple to fabricate maxillofacial prostheses including hollow obturators, which could improve comfort for clinicians by reducing burdensome manipulations. In addition, patients without a specialist in their vicinity will be able to be treated via cooperation between a nearby general practitioner and a distant prosthodontist. The aim of this clinical report is to investigate the possibility of using digitally fabricated maxillofacial prostheses that can be designed in one location, and manufactured in another in clinical situations.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.106-109
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• 2011

Oral cancer treatment involves the surgical removal of all or part of the maxilla, leaving the patient with a defect that compromises the integrity and function of the oral cavity. The postoperative restoration of esthetics, deglutition, and speech shortens recovery time in the hospital and expedites the patient's return to the community as a functioning member. The surgical obturator is the proven treatment option in such situations. This article describes a simple technique to fabricate a surgical obturator that restores patient's original dentition and facial and palatal tissue form. The obturator fabricated with this technique utilizes the vacuum formed index of patient's original tissue form and duplicated partly in heat and partly in auto polymerizing acrylic resin. Duplication of the original tissue form helps patient to minimize the immense physiological trauma immediately after the surgical resection. The obturator fabricated with this technique supports soft tissues after surgery and minimizes scar contracture and disfigurement, and thus may have a positive effect on the patients' psychology.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.586-590
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• 2008

Construction of an obturator for rehabilitation of a patient who underwent a maxillectomy is vital. Routinely a constructed obturator includes denture portion. A patient who may present anatomical limitations due to surgical or radiotherapy complications often challenges the clinician. Purpose: This clinical report describes a patient with severe trismus after surgical resection and radiotherapy treatment of a tumor in the upper left maxilla. Conclusion: This report describes the concepts of using a rotational path insertion for an obturator and a separately constructed maxillary denture. The stability and retention of the obturator were obtained from anatomical features. Where as these were achieved through magnetic attachments and the remaining edentulous ridge to ensure esthetic and function of the prosthesis.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.30-34
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• 2020

Maxillectomy is performed to remove the tumor in the palate, maxillary sinus, buccal mucosa or nasal cavity. The resection range depends on the size and the extent of the tumor and it affects speech production or cause nasal regurgitation during feeding. Obturator can occlude an opening such as an oro-nasal fistula and protect the defect area. Successful reconstrucion of the patient's oral cavity who have gone over the maxillectomy is a difficult task. The condition and number of teeth, the remaining support area, and the extent of the defect area have a great influence on manufacturing the obturator. If these factors are disadvantageous, the prognosis of the prosthesis is uncertain. The final obturator must have a sufficient retention in the patient's oral cavity and must not irritate the surrounding tissue and support area where the resection was performed.In this case, a 55 year old female went through the maxillectomy and the only 3 teeth remained. And the retention of the maxillary prosthesis seems to be poor. So that, we fabricated the closed hollow obturator which has reduced weight compared to the conventional obturator. Consequently the closed hollow obturator can give better sealing and the adaptation.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.222-228
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• 2011

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to evaluate the stress distributions and the displacements of obturator for edentulous maxillectomy patients and to compare them with those of complete denture using three-dimensional finite element analysis. Materials and methods: Based on the CT image of edentulous patient, three-dimensional finite element model of edentulous maxillae was constructed. Three-dimensional finite element model of edentulous maxillae with palatal defect was also fabricated. On each model, complete denture and obturator prosthesis were created. Vertical static force of 200 N was applied on the left maxillary premolar and molar region. The von Mises stress values and the displacements of models were analyzed using three-dimensional finite element analysis. Results: Maximum von Mises stress values were recorded in the cortical bones of both models. The von Mises stress value in the complete denture model was 2.73 MPa and 2.69 MPa in the obturator model. High von Mises stress values were also observed on the tissue surface of prosthesis. The maximum value of the displacement in the obturator was higher than that of complete denture. Conclusion: The obturator showed a worse result in terms of stress distribution and displacement than complete denture. In the prosthodontic rehabilitation of edentulous maxillectomy patient accurate impression procedure based on patients'anatomy and application of prosthodontic principle should be considered.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.207-212
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• 1988

Maxillary defects are a result of necessary cancer surgery, congenital anomaly or trauma. Ideally the patient with the aquired maxillary defect should be provided with an obturator prosthesis that is comfortable, restores adequate speech, deglutition, and mastication, and is acceptable cosmetically. This is a case report of open type hollow obturator delivered in the partial maxillectomy treated patient. The satisfied result obtained as follows: The open type hollow obturator has the advantage of easy fabrication, lightness, easy cleaning and restores adquate speech.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2015

PURPOSE. To assess function by identifying changes in swallowing and masticatory performance in maxillary obturator prosthesis wearers. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Sixty subjects were recruited for the study, of which 20 were obturator wearers, 20 were completely dentulous and 20 had removable partial/complete dentures with similar Eichner's Index. Swallowing ability was evaluated with and without obturator using the "Water Drinking Test"; Masticatory performance was evaluated with the Sieve test; and maximum occlusal force was recorded with the help of a digital bite sensor. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science version 15.0 with a confidence level at 95%. RESULTS. Profile, behavior of drinking and time taken to drink were significantly improved (P<.001) in subjects after wearing obturator. Masticatory performance was not significantly different (P=.252) in obturator wearer when compared with dentulous or removable partial/complete denture wearer, but significantly (P<.001) high inter group difference in maximum occlusal force existed. Correlation between masticatory performance and maximum occlusal force was not significant (P=.124). CONCLUSION. Swallowing ability was significantly improved after wearing obturator but masticatory performance was not significantly different from those having similar occlusal support zone in their dentition.