Fabrication of modified palatal augmentation prosthesis to improve functional deficits in postglossectomy and mandibulectomy patient

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Squamous cell carcinoma of tongue is commonly associated with infiltration of disease into the floor of mouth and the mandible, requiring extensive ablative surgery of the tongue and the mandibular bone. This gives rise to severe facial disfigurement along with various functional deficits, such as difficulty in swallowing, mastication, and speech; uncontrolled salivary secretions; altered mandibular movements; and occlusion. This article describes the prosthetic rehabilitation of a patient who has undergone partial glossectomy with segmental mandibulectomy. It involves the fabrication of a hollow palatal augmentation prosthesis with a widened occlusal table on the nonresected side and a palatal-based guidance ramp for the mandible on the resected side. This case report presents an alternative method to rehabilitate such partially edentulous patients with compromised anatomical situation.