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Maxillofacial Prosthetics

Maxillofacial prosthetics is a specialized branch of prosthodontics that focuses on the rehabilitation of patients who have defects or disabilities in the head and neck region due to trauma, disease, or congenital conditions. This discipline blends the principles of prosthetic dentistry and facial prosthetics to restore aesthetic form and functional utility.Maxillofacial prosthetists create custom prosthetic devices, which may include oral prostheses such as obturators (used in cases of cleft palate or after surgical removal of parts of the palate), facial prostheses (like ears, eyes, or noses), and even cranial prostheses. These prosthetics are typically made from medical-grade materials such as silicone, and are meticulously crafted and color-matched to mimic the patient's natural features as closely as possible.Beyond physical rehabilitation, maxillofacial prosthetics plays a significant role in enhancing patients' psychological well-being, helping them regain self-esteem and reintegrate into social interactions. Consult with your Maxillofacial Rehab Specialist today!!

Obturators and Maxillectomy

Maxillofacial Prosthetics

Obturators play a critical role in the rehabilitation of maxillectomy patients. A maxillectomy is a surgical procedure that removes part or all of the maxilla, or upper jaw bone, typically due to a malignant tumor. This surgery often results in a communication between the oral and nasal cavities, causing functional issues such as difficulty speaking, eating, and swallowing, as well as esthetic concerns.

An obturator is a maxillofacial prosthetic device that closes this communication, restoring function and appearance. Here's how obturators can help maxillectomy patients:

Improving Speech: By separating the oral and nasal cavities, an obturator can significantly enhance speech intelligibility. Without it, the patient's voice may sound hypernasal, making it hard for others to understand them.
Facilitating Eating and Swallowing: By closing off the connection to the nasal cavity, the obturator enables the patient to eat and drink without food or liquid coming out of the nose.
Restoring Appearance: Depending on the extent of the maxillectomy, the face may appear sunken on one side. An obturator can be designed to fill this space, improving facial symmetry and appearance.
Enhancing Quality of Life: By improving speech, eating, and appearance, obturators can significantly enhance a maxillectomy patient's overall quality of life. They can help restore the patient's confidence and facilitate social interactions.
Promoting Healing: In the immediate postoperative period, a surgical obturator helps protect the surgical site, maintain the shape of the oral cavity, and support healing.

Obturators can be temporary or definitive. Temporary obturators are often used immediately after surgery to aid in healing, while definitive obturators are custom-made to provide the best fit, function, and esthetics for the long term. Despite their benefits, it's worth noting that obturators are a prosthetic solution and will require ongoing care and regular adjustments over time. Consult with your Maxillofacial Rehab Specialist today!!

Palatal Lift Prosthesis

Benefits

A palatal lift prosthesis is a special device typically used to treat a condition known as velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), which can occur when the soft palate (or velum) and lateral walls of the throat (or pharynx) don't close properly. This lack of closure can affect speech, causing hypernasality and/or nasal emission, and sometimes lead to difficulty swallowing.

The palatal lift prosthesis is custom-made and fits in the roof of the mouth, similar to a retainer. Its primary function is to lift the soft palate, helping it to make contact with the posterior pharyngeal wall during speech and swallowing. By doing so, it reduces nasal emissions and improves speech resonance.

The benefits of a palatal lift prosthesis include:

Improved Speech: By helping the soft palate achieve closure with the pharynx, the palatal lift can significantly enhance speech intelligibility and reduce hypernasality.
Enhanced Swallowing: It can also improve the function of swallowing by preventing food or liquid from being regurgitated into the nasal cavity.
Non-Invasive: As a prosthetic device, a palatal lift is non-invasive and removable, compared to surgical interventions for VPI.
Speech Therapy Aid: A palatal lift prosthesis can also be used as an adjunct to speech therapy, assisting in the retraining of muscles involved in speech.

It's important to note that a palatal lift prosthesis requires regular care and cleaning, and it should be regularly evaluated by a professional for possible adjustments. Additionally, not all individuals with VPI are suitable candidates for a palatal lift prosthesis; the suitability depends on the specific anatomy and cause of the VPI, among other factors. An evaluation by a team of specialists, typically involving a speech-language pathologist and a prosthodontist or Maxillofacial Rehab Specialist, can determine the best treatment approach. Consult with your Maxillofacial Rehab Specialist Today!!