An Alternative Procedure for Fabricating a Hollow Interim Obturator for a Partial Maxillectomy Patient

A fully digital approach to replacing an obturator prosthesis using a 3D printed closed hollow bulb: Α dental technique

The replacement of an obturator prosthesis using conventional methods has multiple issues. Standard tessellation language files generated from the superimposition of an accurate intraoral scanning of the maxillary defect and direct data acquisition of the existing hollow bulb obturator can facilitate the precise design of the prosthesis, requiring only minor adjustments. Rapid prototyping manufacturing techniques seem to ensure precise control of the integrity of the prosthetic component completion. The success of the technique is the simplicity and repeatability of designing and fabricating a retrievable and easily repairable obturator.

An integrated hollow bulb obturator prosthesis with a metal framework for a soft palate defect fabricated by multiple digital techniques

The digital workflow to fabricate an integrated hollow bulb obturator prosthesis with a metal framework for a patient with soft palate defect is described. The framework was digitally designed with an open lattice denture base connector to facilitate the assembly of the hollow bulb obturator and printed with titanium. A functional impression of the palatopharyngeal area was made, and an integrated 3-dimensional (3D) cast was obtained by aligning the data of the functional impression to the preliminary intraoral scan data. The hollow bulb obturator and a palatal cover were designed based on the integrated 3D cast and the framework design data and printed with light-polymerizing denture base resin. The printed framework, obturator, and palatal cover were assembled and bonded without a physical cast, and the definitive prosthesis exhibited good fit, retention, and stability.

CAD-CAM Hollow Obturator Prosthesis: A Technical Report

An obturator with a hollow bulb can decrease the overall weight of the prosthesis, stress on the underlying tissues, and patient discomfort. Although many techniques and materials have been proposed in the literature for hollowing the obturator prosthesis, they are often time consuming and technique sensitive. This proposed technique used an open‐source software program to hollow a digital design of a solid obturator base from a commercially available software in one single convenient step. The hollowing process allowed precise control of prosthesis thickness at the hollow space area for desirable hermetic seal and prosthesis strength.

Lost wax-bolus technique to process closed hollow obturator with uniform wall thickness using single flasking procedure

INTRODUCTION

Maxillary obturator prosthesis is more frequent treatment modality than surgical reconstruction for maxillectomy in patients suffering from oral cancer. The obturators often become heavy and hence are hollowed out in the defect portion to reduce its weight as a standard practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The processing technique described the incorporation of the preshaped "wax-bolus" during packing procedure of the Obturtor prosthesis and eliminated later by melting it once the curing procedure is completed.

RESULTS

This article is a single step procedure resulting into the closed-hollow obturator as single unit with uniform wall thickness around the hollow space ensuring the least possible weight of the hollow obturator.

CONCLUSION

This processing technique achieves predictable internal dimension of the hollow space providing uniform wall thickness of the obturator.

A hollow definitive obturator fabrication technique for management of partial maxillectomy

Maxillary obturator prosthesis is the most frequent treatment option for management of partial or total maxillectomy. Heavy weight of the obturators is often a dislocating factor. Hollowing the prosthesis to reduce its weight is the well established fact. The alternate technique to hollow-out the prosthesis has been described in this article which is a variation of previously described processing techniques. A pre-shaped wax-bolus was incorporated inside the flasks during packing of the heat-polymerized acrylic resin to automatically create the hollow space. The processing technique described is a single step flasking procedure to construct a closed-hollow-obturator prosthesis as a single unit. To best understand the technique, this article describes management of a patient who had undergone partial maxillectomy secondary to squamous cell carcinoma rehabilitated with a hollow-obturator prosthesis.

Fabrication of a hollow obturator as a single unit for management of bilateral subtotal maxillectomy

Prosthetic rehabilitation with an obturator for a total or subtotal maxillectomy patient is a challenging task, as there are little or no residual maxillary structures to depend on for support, retention, and stability of the prosthesis. This clinical report describes the prosthodontic management of a patient operated on for a bilateral subtotal maxillectomy secondary to ameloblastoma of the palate with a closed hollow obturator. The processing technique described in this article to fabricate the hollow obturator is a variation of other well-known techniques. The variation comprises the use of a wax bolus to maintain a predictable internal dimension for a hollow obturator. This technique allows fabrication of a complete hollow obturator prosthesis as a single unit in heat-polymerized acrylic resin using a single-step flasking procedure.

Prosthetic treatments for patients with oronasal communication

The prosthetic treatments play a role in the rehabilitation of patients with congenital and acquired cleft palate. To prepare the surgical field and/or correct inevitable sequelae of the surgery, the rehabilitation with obturator prosthesis is an auxiliary or complementary treatment to surgical treatments. In cases where the surgical treatment is contraindicated, the prosthetic rehabilitation becomes a definitive treatment. The denture is planned and fabricated according to each patient. Therefore, the aim of this study was to discuss the prosthetic rehabilitation performed in patients with oronasal communication.