prosthodontic rehabilitation of acquired maxillary defects

The presence of oral cancer in India is at an alarmingly high level that every third oral cancer patient belongs to this country. Even though oral cancer is detected at an early stage and treated successfully, its crippling potential deserves critical attention. The surgical treatment affects vital functions like swallowing, drinking and speech. No doubt the handicapped functions will traumatize the individual at emotional and physical levels. More than 50 % of oral cancer victims do suffer from palatal defects. These individuals require prosthodontic care so that they can lead a normal life.Rehabilitation of acquired maxillary defect is a challenging task. Soon after surgery when an individual faces the reality of a maxillary defect it is embarrassing or rather shocking and the situation is never digested without pain or remorse. To avoid such a predicament prosthodontic treatment is planned well before the surgery in association with the operating surgeon. A pre-surgical obturator is planned, fabricated and delivered to the patient so that the traumatic experience of defective maxilla never comes to the notice of the patient.