Comparison of obturator prosthesis fabricated using different techniques and its effect on the management of a hemipalatomaxillectomy patient.

Odontogenic tumours involving the maxilla or mandible are usually treated with surgical resection. To prevent recurrence, extensive surgical intervention might be carried out leaving the patient with anatomical defects. However, rehabilitation of such patients with an obturator can improve function, facial form and social acceptance. In this case, we have evaluated the different designs and techniques of fabrication of an obturator prosthesis used for the rehabilitation of a hemipalatomaxillectomy patient. A 40-year-old man presented with a loose fitting obturator prosthesis. He had undergone hemipalatomaxillectomy for the treatment of an ameloblastoma 2 years earlier and had been using an obturator prosthesis since then. Hollow-bulb obturator prostheses were fabricated using two different methods, the lost salt and open lid techniques. The obturator prosthesis fabricated with the lost salt technique weighed less than the patient's old obturator. But the obturator fabricated using the open lid technique did not only considerably reduce the weight of the prosthesis but also improved health, function, aesthetics, phonetics and quality of life in this hemipalatomaxillectomy patient. 2014 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.