Guide flange prosthesis for early management of reconstructed hemimandibulectomy: a case report

Abstract

Surgical resection of the mandible due to presence of benign or malignant tumor is the most common cause of the mandibular deviation. Depending upon the location and extent of the tumor in the mandible, various surgical treatment modalities like marginal, segmental, hemi, subtotal, or total mandibulectomy can be performed. The clinicians must wait for extensive period of time for completion of healing and acceptance of the osseous graft before considering the definitive prosthesis. During this initial healing period prosthodontic intervention is required for preventing the mandibular deviation. This case report describes early prosthodontic management of a patient who has undergone a reconstructed hemi-mandibulectomy with modified mandibular guide flange prosthesis. The prosthesis helps patient moving the mandible normally without deviation during functions like speech and mastication.