ABSTRACT
Loss of part of the face is associated with physical disability, social isolation and immense psychological trauma. Proper rehabilitation of such a patient is a challenging yet satisfying task for a maxillofacial prosthodontist. Facial prostheses are commonly fabricated of silicone because of many favorable properties, though it predisposes to fungal growth. This report is of a patient with history of uncontrolled diabetes and associated invasive fungal infection, leading to a complex oro-facial defect, which was rehabilitated successfully with a silicone facial prosthesis lined by a material more resistant to fungal growth along with a cast partial obturator. Other design and procedural modifications were also made to suit the needs of the case. Wise selection of materials, keeping in mind the properties of materials, is important in successful rehabilitation
ABSTRACT
Aim: The aim of the study was to analyze the elderly edentulous and denture user population in the vicinity of the institution qualitatively and quantitatively; to estimate the number of edentulous patients requiring dentures and the factors depriving them of the complete denture rehabilitation; and to qualitatively analyze the quality, make and the use of dentures in the denture users of the community
Subjects and Methods: Total 600 [50% male and 50%females] subjects with the age of more than 60 years, from dental camps and old age homes, were randomly selected for the study. The edentulous and denture wearer groups were separately interviewed with a leading questionnaire by qualified dental officers and prosthodontists. The dentures and oral conditions of the denture wearer group were assessed. The data was compiled and analyzed
Results: In the edentulous group, 402 [67%] subjects were without dentures out of a total of 600 subject. There was no significant difference between males and females. The mean edentulous period was 5.5 years. As many as 254 [63%] people had remained deprived of complete denture treatment due to their financial constrains. Also 56 [14%] subjects had problems of transportation and care taker with 44 [11%] unaware of the procedure, time schedule and importance of complete dentures and its beneficial advantages on the overall health. There were 48 [12%] had decision-making problems and dependent on the immediate family members and caretakers for their health problems. In the denture users group out of 198, 90 [45%] were unsatisfied with their denture with 32 [16%] having their made by quacks [unqualified denturists]. As many as 67 [34%] of the dentures were incorrectly prepared in terms of material, retention, stability, support, extensions and occlusion. 9 [5%] people were diagnosed of suffering from denture related stomatitis, epulis fissuratum, candidiasis and hyperplasia
Conclusions: Considering the large number of untreated edentulous patients, and the many those with poor quality complete dentures it is suggested to; plan immediate strategies by healthcare providers to make oral Healthcare and quality denture provision service available to the unpreviliged section of the community, plan and organize periodic workshops, treatment and evaluaton camps and concession in treatment cost, and bring awareness and encouragement for denture rehabilitation by qualified dental practitioners through frequent visits to these peoples
ABSTRACT
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% (+/-13.64) on average. On item-level, maximum mean scores were obtained for items problem with teeth (1.87 +/- 0.94), pain in mouth (1.80 +/- 0.92), trouble in eating (1.70 +/- 0.88), trouble in talking to other people (1.60 +/- 1.22), problems in swallowing solid food (1.57 +/- 1.22) and bothering appearance (1.53 +/- 1.04); while minimum scores were obtained for the items coughing (1.17 +/- 0.38), hoarseness of voice (1.17 +/- 0.53), painful throat (1.13 +/- 0.43), trouble in having social contacts with friends (1.10 +/- 0.40) and trouble having physical contacts with family or friends (1.10 +/- 0.31). CONCLUSION: Obturator prosthesis is a highly positive and non-invasive approach to improve the quality of life of patients with maxillectomy defects.