Severe Maxillectomy Defect Rehabilitation with an Implant-Retained Obturator Prosthesis: A Case Report

Somayeh  Niakan; Nafise  Asgari; Niyousha  Rafeie; Solmaz  Barati

doi:10.18502/fid.v21i2.14669

Somayeh Niakan Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Nafise Asgari Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Niyousha Rafeie Dental Research Center, Dentistry Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Solmaz Barati Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/fid.v21i2.14669

Keywords: Dental Implants; Palatal Obturators; Surgery, Oral

Abstract

Conventional obturator prostheses might cause dissatisfaction in patients with hard or soft palate defects due to inadequate retention and function during speech, mastication, and swallowing. Thus, surgical reconstruction and implant-supported obturators are considered as alternative treatments for these patients.

This case-report study describes the prosthetic reconstruction of an 88-year-old patient suffering from a hard palate defect after surgical resection of verrucous carcinoma in the left side of the hard palate. Fifteen months after radiotherapy, two implants were placed in the right side of the remaining ridge, in the second and third molar region. After the implant healing period, the implant-supported obturator prosthesis was fabricated. The patient was satisfied with the esthetics and function of the obturator at the 12-month recall visit and radiographs showed normal healing and no bone loss around the implants.