Postradiotherapy Prosthetic Management of Mandible Reconstructed With Fibular Graft.

Intraoral defects secondary to resection of mandible leading to mandibular discontinuity are very complicated to treat as the muscles exert forces on the residual portion of the mandible. Primarily this leads to disfigurement of the face. These forces also make mastication difficult due to imbalance. Ultimately it leads to poor quality of life for the patient. Apart from that the clinical outcome and prognosis of prosthetic rehabilitation of such patients is very poor. The composite fibular flap is the preferred donor site for reconstruction of most complex orofacial-mandibular defects. The addition of a skin island allows for absolute tension-free intraoral closure that enhances tongue mobility. After reconstruction with free fibula graft, planning for prosthodontic rehabilitation by various methods can be carried out. Treatment strategy is dependent on the intraoral situation and patient's acceptance. This article reports various treatment considerations for implant retained prosthetic rehabilitation in a patient who had undergone mandibular reconstruction with free fibula flap.

Rehabilitation of large maxillary defect with two-piece maxillary obturators.

The insertion and removal of an obturator in large maxillary defects with or without trismus is difficult. Fabrication of a two-piece obturator in such cases overcomes this problem. This article describes rehabilitation of large maxillary defects with two piece maxillary obturator of three types. All these obturators have a maxillary plate and a bulb component, which are approximated together by various techniques namely, silicone cover, embedded magnets, and press studs. Prosthetic rehabilitation of large maxillary defects with two-piece obturators offers the possibility of adequate oral rehabilitation by fabricating light weight prosthesis, which is easy to use. The bulb covers the undercut areas of the defect enhancing the facial contour and retention. It facilitates easy examination of underlying tissues, recreation of the anatomic barrier between the oral and nasal cavities and restoration of the function and esthetics. Thus, it adds to the quality of life.

Simple prosthesis for a cancer patient with a segmental mandibulectomy and free fibula flap reconstruction: a clinical report.

Tumors of the mandible often necessitate the resection of a major portion of the body of the mandible as well as tissue from the tongue. Resection of the body of the mandible often leads to discontinuity of the mandible, affecting function to a large extent. While the rehabilitation of such defects with free fibula flaps may provide a certain level of stability to the mandible and aid in the prosthetic rehabilitation of these patients, the bulk of these flaps may create difficulties during prosthetic rehabilitation. The economic constraints of patients and/or their fear of implant surgery may also rule out prosthetic rehabilitation with implant-retained prostheses. This case report describes a simple and cost-effective method of prosthetic rehabilitation for a cancer patient who had undergone a segmental mandibulectomy followed by reconstruction with a free fibula flap.

Technical considerations in rehabilitation of an edentulous total glossectomy patient.

The technician by virtue of his profession plays an important role in fabricating silicone tongue prosthesis for a total glossectomy patient. The technician, with his skills and specialized knowledge in handling material, plays a valuable role as a member of the oncology team. A patient with total glossectomy can be rehabilitated by silicone tongue prosthesis as an aid to improve his speech and swallowing. This paper describes the technical steps involved in fabricating a silicone tongue prosthesis for an edentulous total glossectomy patient.