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. 2009 Jan 3;2(1):6.
doi: 10.1186/1757-1626-2-6.

Influence of immediate and permanent obturators on facial contours: a case series

Süha Türkaslan  1 , Timuçin Baykul, M Asım Aydın, M Mustafa Ozarslan
Affiliations

Influence of immediate and permanent obturators on facial contours: a case series

Süha Türkaslan et al. Cases J. .

Abstract

Introduction: Rehabilitation of patients after surgical removal of carcinomas in facial skeleton is one of the most difficult therapies of the stomatognathic system. Significant deformation of tissues, dysfunctions of the stomatognathic system with concurrent biological imbalance of the oral cavity environment frequently affect the treatment to become arduous. Scars and contraction of the oral crevice may cause serious psychological deficiencies that are another aspect of the treatment schedule.

Case presentation: Three Turkish patients ages 46 (male), 61 (male) and 24 (female) who experienced similar operations were rehabilitated with maxillary obturators. The situations was ideal for patient no 1. Patient no 2 could not receive an immediate obturator and patient no 3 rejected using permanent obturator. The paper describes the advantages of a surgical obturator which is constructed before operation and inserted immediately following partial maxillectomy and expresses long term complications when neglecting the use of definite obturator prosthesis, in the light of three cases.

Conclusion: The primary objective of oral-maxillofacial and plastic surgeons and prosthodontists when treating tumors is to eliminate disease and to improve the quality of life including the facial contours which influences the psychological condition of patient. Neglecting immediate obturator construction may cause serious facial appearance problems due to soft tissue contracture. When permanent obturator is rejected, serious contracture of soft tissues and facial disharmony is inevitable.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Immediate obturator with Adams retention clasp.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Intraoral view of interim obturator.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The permanent obturator in occlusion.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Extraoral view of patient no 1 who used immediate and interim obturator.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Extraoral view of patient no 2 who received no immediate obturator, left mid-facial region collapsed.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Pre-op photograph of patient no 3.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Spiessl type immediate obturator with loops inserted.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Facial view of patient no 3 after 5 years surgery.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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