A mechanically retained, four part oral and facial prosthesis: a clinical report.

The design of a prosthesis depends not only on anatomical and physiological factors, but also needs to encompass patient's socio-economic limitations and psychological needs. A four-part prosthesis for a patient with a maxillary and orbital defect was designed to be easy for the patient to insert, remove and clean, retentive without requiring sophisticated attachments or the use of adhesives, and made from economically viable materials. The denture was attached to an acrylic resin core which in turn clipped into a silicone glove obturator. The facial section fastened onto the ocular "button" on a larger, separate core, which then connected into the orbital opening of the obturator. The entire assembly was self-retentive, yet each component could also be worn separately if the need arose. This provided a functional prosthesis as well as psychological benefits to the patient who had no access to medical facilities or supplies in her rural home town.