Magnetically retained extra oral prosthesis and maxillary interim obturator

Abstract

Rehabilitation of patients with acquired defects of the maxilla is a challenge in terms of re-establishing oro-nasal separation. In most patients, these goals are met by means of prosthetic rehabilitation with an obturator prosthesis. Prosthetic rehabilitation can be achieved satisfactorily if all facets of treatment planning and design consideration are taken into account prior to the rehabilitation process. In many cases, effective obturation is achieved, but, in the relative majority, the prosthesis is usually rejected by the patient as being non-retentive and the outcome is a failure. Therefore, making the prosthesis hollow and incorporation of retentive features in effective way can have a dramatic effect on the stability and retention of the obturator prosthesis in partially dentulous maxillectomy patients. This clinical report describes prosthetic rehabilitation of acquired maxillofacial defect with magnetically retained maxillary interim obturator with extra-oral prosthesis. Extra-oral prosthesis was retained with closed-field magnet system. Defect was developed following post-maxillectomy due to olfactory neuroblastoma and surgical obturator.