Obturator prostheses in post-oncological maxillofacial patients: our experience

Background: Surgical procedures for tumors of the paranasal sinus, palatal epithelium, minor salivary glands or osteosarcoma of the upper jaw require a partial or total maxillectomy of the upper jaw. When the surgical procedure and/or radiation therapy result in a communication, the solution is necessarily prosthetical, through a palatal obturator that recreates a partition between the oral and nasal cavities. Methods: Authors selected 32 post-oncological patients with the upper maxilla completely edentulous prosthetically rehabilitated with a palatal obturator. Results: No serious complications or adverse reactions were reported during the fabrication of surgical or definitive obturators. All patients stated to benefit the palatal obturator in terms of quality of life. Conclusion: Prosthetic rehabilitation of edentulous maxillectomy with oral communication is a demanding challenge for the prosthodontist. The goals of prosthetic rehabilitation include separation of oral and nasal cavities to allow adequate deglutition and articulation of teeth, restore midfacial soft tissue contour and a satisfactory esthetic outcome. When, for any reason, the patient is not a suitable candidate for an implant-retained overdenture, a total removable prosthesis should ensure the most comfort in terms of swallowing, phonation and aesthetics.