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Spring‐retained delayed surgical obturator for total maxillectomy: a technical note
Author(s) -
Patil P.G.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
oral surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.156
H-Index - 11
eISSN - 1752-248X
pISSN - 1752-2471
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-248x.2010.01071.x
Subject(s) - medicine , dentures , palatal obturator , dentistry , tongue , acrylic resin , prosthesis , orthodontics , surgery , materials science , composite material , pathology , coating
Aim: The aim of this article is to describe a technique to fabricate a spring retained surgical obturator prosthesis for rehabilitation of a patient with total maxillectomy. Material and Methods: The mandibular retention plate was fabricated with the help of hard, round, stainless steel orthodontic wires and heat‐polymerizing acrylic resin. The 0.6 mm wire is manipulated to make Adams clasps on right and left mandibular first molars and 1 mm wire to make C clasps on right and left mandibular first premolars. A palatal shaped maxillary obturator plate was fabricated with acrylic resin. Two newly designed springs were fabricated with 0.6 mm orthodontic wire. Lower end of the springs were attached to the mandibular retention plate and upper ends were attached to the maxillary obturator plate. Results: When the appliance was placed in the mouth with the help of the mandibular retention plate, the maxillary obturator plate remains in a floating position in the mouth by spring‐action on both sides. The springs used in the appliance were easy to fabricate and required less space in the buccal vestibules with minimum soft tissue irritation. Conclusion: This obturator develops the seal with the dorsum of the tongue during deglutition, thus helping the patient to take liquid food orally. It has proven to be the acceptable and comfortable treatment option for the patients with total maxillectomy, thereby, enhancing the quality of life during the initial healing period.