Yohsuke Taira, DDS, PhD,(a) Souichi Yanamoto, DDS, PhD,(b) Goro Kawasaki, DDS, PhD,(b) Shinichi Yamada, DDS, PhD,(b) and Mitsuru Atsuta, DDS, PhD(a)
(a)Division of Applied Prosthodontics, and (b)Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery,
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
A patient underwent treatment for malignant melanoma which necessitated the excision of all his teeth, the alveolar bone, and the hard palate. Prosthodontic rehabilitation was required to recover the processes of mastication, speaking and swallowing, as well as improving aesthetics. A silicon obturator was fabricated with a soft denture liner material, inserted into the maxillary defect, and an acrylic denture was mechanically connected to the silicon obturator. After one year of service, the patient was functioning well with the obturator prosthesis, and no accidental changes were observed. This clinical report suggests that a detachable silicon obturator could be an option in the recovery of postsurgical maxillary defect.
(Int Chin J Dent 2007; 7: 75-77.)
Key Words: biomaterial, maxilla, obturator prosthesis, tumor.