Customized Alar Stent Fabrication for Atrophic Rhinitis Patient: A Non-invasive Technique.

ABSTRACT

Atrophic Rhinitis is a form of chronic rhinitis in which the nasal mucosa atrophies and hardens; eventually causing the nasal passages to dilate and dry out. Other prominent findings include foul smelling crusts and bleeding. Despite various local, medical and surgical methods suggested for the treatment of this slowly progressing disease, the problem with respect to the proper maintenance of the nasal valve area remains unsolved. The alar stent prevents the narrowing of the nostrils and helps in maintaining the airway patency. This article describes a simplified, non-invasive technique for the fabrication of a heat polymerized clear acrylic resin alar stent for treating the atrophic rhinitis patient.