Microstomia: Difficult Proposition to Rehabilitate

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The rehabilitation of microstomia patientspresents difficulties during fabrication of denture as themaximal mouth opening is inadequate. This condition mayresult from the surgical treatment of orofacial cancer, cleft lip,trauma, burns, Plummer–Vinson syndrome or scleroderma.The reduced mouth opening also leads to difficulty in speech,mastication and psychological problems secondary to facialdisfigurement.Case report It is often difficult to apply conventional clinicalprocedures to fabricate prosthesis for patients who demonstratelimited mouth opening, since it is difficult to follow theprotocol of fabrication of prosthesis and also insertion andremoval of one-piece prosthesis into the oral cavity. Thepresent case report focuses on rehabilitation of microstomiausing sectional prosthesis and intraoral magnets with whichenabled easier and competent removal and insertion by thepatient.Conclusion: The sectional denture attached by the magnetcan be more comfortably removed and inserted by the patientwith reduced mouth opening. It is simple and cost-effectivemethod for rehabilitation of microstomia patient.