Definitive simple obturators to enhance speech and function – A case series report

Maxillary defects are created by surgical treatment of benign or malignant neoplasms and by trauma. Except for patients with small oro-antral and oronasal defects, which may be amenable to surgical closure, patients with these defects are rehabilitated by prosthodontic means.

A comfortable, cosmetically acceptable prosthesis that restores the impaired physiologic activities of speech, deglutition, and mastication is a basic objective of prosthodontic care. The most important objective of prosthodontic care, emphasized by DeVan, is preservation of the remaining teeth and tissue. In many instances, effective obturation is achieved but in relative majority the prosthesis is usually rejected by the patient resulting into complete failure of the treatment. The complications associated with maxillary defects limit the treatment protocols to a great extent; hence instead of trying any type of heroic treatment strategy, it would be in favour and benefit of the patient to decide for a simple and acceptable treatment for closure of the defect. This clinical report describes the fabrication of simple maxillary definitive obturators for 2 patients, one completely edentulous and one completely dentulous with a maxillary defect, primarily defect of the hard palate, after undergoing surgical procedure.