A TECHNIQUE FOR ENHANCING THE RETENTION OF A RESECTION OBTURATOR PROSTHESIS IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING TOTAL MAXILLARY RESECTION

Relevance. Prosthetic rehabilitation of patients after total maxillectomy remains one of the most challenging problems in maxillofacial prosthodontics because of extensive postoperative defects, communication between the oral and nasal cavities, and insufficient retention of obturator prostheses.

Objective. To develop and evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a technique for improving the retention of resection obturator prostheses following total maxillectomy.

Materials and Methods. Two clinical cases of prosthetic rehabilitation after total maxillectomy using the proposed obturator retention technique are presented. The technique involves creating a trapezoidal recess on the vestibular surface of the obturator and placing a medical foam insert or a dental cotton roll as an additional retentive element.

Results. The proposed technique provided satisfactory retention and stability of the obturator prosthesis, reliable separation of the oral and nasal cavities, and improvement of mastication, swallowing, and speech. The presented clinical cases demonstrated the practical applicability of the proposed design.

Conclusions. The proposed technique is a simple, accessible, and effective method for improving the retention of resection obturator prostheses and may be recommended for prosthetic rehabilitation of patients after total maxillectomy.

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